A WOMAN has been banned from owning dogs after keeping her starving pet locked in a barred crate.

Nicola Jones, 46, of York Road, Cinderford was convicted of cruelty to her Staffordshire terrier Labrador cross Maisie, which was just over half the weight she should have been.

Jones was banned indefinitely from keeping or looking after dogs and ordered to pay £330 in fines and costs after admitting causing unnecessary suffering.

Forest of Dean District Council officers found the dog crated in the kitchen with no water and no bedding in April 2017, Cheltenham magistrates heard.

Officers said Maisie looked underweight with sore patches on her face and legs, and veterinary reports later confirmed that she was underweight for a dog of her size and breed.

Blood tests showed there was no medical cause for the weight loss, and the only conclusion was that her condition was due to starvation.

The sores on her body were thought to have been caused by the bars of her cage, which she was confined to when the owner was out of the house.

Maisie was voluntarily signed over to the care of the RSPCA on May 3 2017, and has since made a full recovery, nearly doubling her weight from 13.26kg to 24.1kg. She is now looking for her “forever home”.

The court was told that Jones had received threats over social media since the case was reported and her children had been targeted.

She was very remorseful and would never have another dog, magistrates heard.

Council leader Cllr Tim Gwilliam said: “As a council we take animal welfare seriously and will take action where we can.

“We are pleased that the court agreed that Miss Jones should be disqualified from keeping or looking after any dogs in the future.”