A woman who was banned from keeping animals for life after slitting her dog’s throat has been found with another pet.

Officers discovered the English bulldog at Santana Montero D’Sanchez’s house in Gillingham.

In March 2018 she was convicted of animal cruelty after she killed her dog while she was suffering a “mental breakdown”.

At the time, she was banned from ever owning an animal again. But when police went to her home in September this year they found Remy, a brown and white bulldog and the 38-year-old was later charged.

She had owned the dog for two years.

Montero D’Sanchez, of Britton Street, Gillingham, appeared before magistrates in Medway on October 11 and admitted breaching a disqualification imposed after her conviction under the Animal Welfare Act.

Emily Wyles, prosecuting, said: “Officers attended the address and could hear a dog barking. The defendant came to a small window to talk to the officers who negotiated with her to let them in.

“Once inside, she told them she had had the dog for a little while. Police removed the bulldog.

“She has eight convictions, including causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was given a lifetime ban. She slit the dog’s throat and stabbed it.

“She is in breach of that ban.”

Luke Mayer, defending, told the court his client had believed the order didn’t still stand as she had been given an 18-month suspended sentence at Croydon Magistrates' Court and that paperwork she had been given at the time didn’t make it clear that she was in fact on a lifetime ban.

He added: “It was a heinous crime in 2018. She suffers from bipolar.

“She doesn’t really remember the incident. She had profound mental health issues and loved that dog. She also had another dog called Gino who was seized and returned to her now ex-partner.

“It was not an act of cruelty, she suffered a profound mental episode and has been sectioned twice. Lapses have happened.

“She had to move from London after it happened. There were no issues with Remy.

“Her suspended sentence order was over and she thought that was it.

“She knew Remy as he was a friend’s dog, but because they were having a baby she ended up wit him and thought the order was over.

“She’d had him for two years and trained it and could walk him off the lead (he was trained so well), and all her neighbours knew him.

“What she did was five years ago and was due to a severe mental episode.”

The court also heard Montero D’Sanchez’s mental state had deteriorated since the police had seized Remy and the dog had helped her keep her sane.

The bench also heard she was on a community order for another offence, but had only completed one rehabilitation session so far.

Magistrates decided to extend the community order she was on by six months so she could complete her rehabilitation sessions. It will now end in August 2024.

They also told her to work with probation and get all the help she needs.

The bench ordered Remy not to be returned to her and that she pay £85 court costs.