by Lynn Cox

A dog-owner who admitted cruelty to his pet has been banned from keeping animals.

Marcus Judge appeared before Medway magistrates after an RSPCA inspector found his dog Sian so weak she couldn’t stand up.

The 13-year-old lurcher was infested with fleas, covered in scratches and sores and hardly had any hair left.

Inspector Steve Williams made the sickening discovery when he called at Judge’s home, then in Windsor Road, Gillingham, after a tip-off in November last year.

The sick animal was found curled up on Judge’s sofa. Despite her condition, Judge had not taken her to vet for treatment.

She was immediately taken to a vet and began having treatment, but had to be put down a week later due to an unrelated kidney condition.

Judge, who now lives in Wyles Street, Gillingham, was banned from keeping any pets and ordered to pay £1,200 after pleading guilty to one charge of animal cruelty.

He was also given a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement, ordered to pay £1,200 costs and disqualified from keeping any animals indefinitely.

The court heard how Sian was suffering from muscle wastage, emaciated and infested with fleas.

She was severely dehydrated and more than 30 per cent underweightround the clock care by veterinary staff.

RSPCA Inspector Williams said: “I am pleased with the disqualification for keeping any animals.

“Sian was in such a poor state that justice had to be done for her sake and I think it has been.

“It’s one of the worst cases I have ever seen and there was no excuse for why he did not take the dog to the vet.”

Judge can apply to the court to be allowed to keep an animal again one year after the ban was issued.