A woman has been given a lifetime ban from keeping animals - but avoided prison – for her treatment of a dog that starved to death surrounded by its own waste in a tiny cage.

Stacey Lockhurst, of Brook Street, Dartford, was given a 20-week prison sentence - suspended for a year - by Dartford magistrates today.

The 27-year-old admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by keeping the German shepherd puppy called Jack in a squalid cage and failing to address his rapid weight loss.

Her partner Paul Brunsden, 25, was jailed for 20 weeks and also permanently banned from keeping animals when he appeared at the same court last month after admitting the same charge.

The RSPCA described it as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty officers had ever seen.

Banner-waving animal rights campaigners gathered outside court to protest along with members of a Facebook group formed in memory of Jack.

RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher said: "It is heartbreaking that this poor dog lived and then died in the squalor of this cage, hungry, thirsty and alone. This kind of cruelty is simply horrendous and anyone looking at the photo of this dog can see the suffering."

RSPCA investigators first visited Lockhurst's former home in Erith in October 2010 – when the dog was 16 weeks old. The inspectors offered advice on training and suggested the pair hand over the puppy.

Seven months later Jack, was found dead - covered with a curtain.

"it's not enough, she should have gone to prison…” – animal rights protestor

His container was infested with maggots and flies and a water bowl was full of excrement.

A post mortem examination found Jack was emaciated, had no fat and likely died of starvation.

KentOnline has cropped the picture of Jack above to avoid showing his injuries in graphic detail.

The examining vet concluded he "suffered greatly and unnecessarily for a great period of time".

Passing sentence, district judge Michael Kelly said it was a "particularly bad" case, but he thought Lockhurst, who has learning difficulties, had been "influenced to an extent".

He added "there may have been some lack of appreciation of what was happening" to the dog.

Animal rights protestors gathered outside Dartford Magistrates' Court

Wayne Crowhurst, defending, said: "She regrets what she did. I don't think she set out with that in mind.

"She's a very vulnerable lady, I think she'd be bullied in prison."

Lockhurst was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 court costs.

Protestors who had gathered outside the court to wave banners crammed into the public gallery to learn her fate.

Afterwards, one of them said: "It's not enough, she should have gone to prison."