A chihuahua cross named Chunky was stolen, set on fire and dumped at a rubbish tip with a broken neck and leg in one of the most disturbing cases of abuse an RSPCA inspector has ever seen.

Four teenagers have been banned from keeping animals for five years after pleading guilty to torturing the tiny puppy.

Investigations revealed the tiny puppy, who was less than a year old, had been stolen on February 23.

Three of the youths, two aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the offence, previously admitted kicking and punching the chihuahua cross, before breaking his leg and neck, setting him on fire, feeding him drugs and dumping him at a rubbish tip believing him to be dead.

He was not found until the following evening by a passer-by at the rubbish tip in Manston Road, Margate.

After a miraculous recovery the tiny dog has now been returned to his owner.

The teenagers pleaded guilty in October to cruelly ill-treating the animal in a way which they knew would cause him to suffer unnecessarily, and were all disqualified from keeping all animals for five years, given a referral order for 12 months and ordered to pay costs.

One of the youths was made to pay £1,000 and the other two £500.

A fourth youth, aged 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to the same offences under the Animal Welfare Act, at a trial at Folkestone Youth Court today.

He was also disqualified from keeping animals for five years and given a referral order for twelve months, plus his father was made to pay costs of £5,800.

RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe said: “This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with - by an absolute mile.

“These youths admitted feeding him drugs, and kicking and punching him, and wringing and breaking his neck before dumping him.

"They also said they set fire to his face and eyes after lighting a deodorant aerosol can.

“The whole thing sends shivers down my spine.

"The defendants may have been young and confessed to being under the influence of drugs but the cruelty they inflicted on this poor dog was extreme, barbaric and inexcusable.

“Chunky was found with a broken leg and neck, and with burns all over his face and eyes.

“This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with - by an absolute mile" - RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe

"He must have suffered horrendously for hours as the senseless torture took place for the amusement of these boys.

“What was perhaps even worse was the fact Chunky suffered for days after he was dumped - literally left for dead on his own to wander next to a fast road.

“It is a miracle he survived. I will never forget how terrified and depressed he was when I first saw him.

"The injuries were so severe that despite the fantastic veterinary care and medication he was on, the medication was unable to numb all of the pain, and he suffered for at least six days according to veterinary experts.

“Thankfully he has now been restored to health and returned to his loving owners, though I fear he will always be timid and nervous as a result of his ordeal, and imagine the owners will never quite be able to come to terms with what was senseless and needlessly inflicted on their beautiful family pet .”