A PET owner has been given a suspended sentence and banned from keeping animals after he admitted animal cruelty charges at Worcester Magistrates Court.

George Biddle, of Allens Hill, in Pinvin, Pershore, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to seven dogs and a pony by failing to investigate their weight loss and failing to meet the welfare needs of the dogs by not providing them with a safe and clean environment.

The RSPCA visited Biddle in December 2012 and advised him that his female lurcher was in ‘lean’ condition. On a follow-up visit an officer found the lurcher, her four puppies, a male lurcher and a terrier in very poor condition.

A piebald pony belonging to Biddle was later found collapsed in a field and had to be put down.

The 69-year-old was banned from keeping animals for 10 years and his dogs were all re-homed by the RSPCA. The disqualification order was suspended to allow Biddle to sell his remaining ponies.

The court gave Biddle three suspended prison sentences totalling 34 weeks.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Mark Lewis said: “We visited this defendant and gave advice but it was not followed and the animals’ condition deteriorated.”