THE man responsible for one of Britain's worst cruelty cases is facing another jail term after ignoring a lifetime ban on keeping animals and causing unnecessary suffering to his dogs.

Lee Howard was jailed for six months last year after leaving more than 30 animals to die in appalling conditions at Bank Top stables, in Trimdon, County Durham.

Howard, who claimed he left the animals to die because he was suffering from depression, was also banned from keeping animals for life.

But Teesside magistrates heard how within months of leaving prison, Howard was keeping dogs and birds at his home in Delarden Road, in Middlesbrough.

When the house was raided by RSPCA inspectors, they were overwhelmed by the stench of ammonia.

John Elwood, prosecuting, said officers discovered 11 dogs and 16 birds living in atrocious conditions when they called at his home in January. All the dogs were in a distressed and unhealthy state and one needed treatment for a serious ear infection.

The birds were being kept in filthy conditions in their cages.

He said: "The yard was awash with faeces, with the dogs wandering around in it.

"In the living room, there was an overpowering smell of ammonia with more dogs running about in it. The upstairs of the house was the same."

Howard originally denied the charges, but at the last minute changed his plea to guilty of breaching his lifetime banon keeping animals and two charges of causing unnecessary suffering.

The court was told that, when Howard was originally interviewed by RSPCA officers, he claimed someone else was responsible for looking after the animals.

But when the alleged owner was tracked down, he denied any knowledge of the cruelty.

In mitigation, Alex Bousfield said: "The defendant was living in the same conditions as these animals and one has to wonder how this happened. We may need to commission a psychiatric report to find the underlying problem.

Magistrates requested a full pre-sentence report and warned Howard he could face jail.

Howard, now of Shinwell Crescent, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was released on unconditional bail until he is sentenced next month. He caused outrage when he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to 13 horses, four dogs, 11 hens and a rabbit during the summer of 2005.

The 41-year-old also pleaded guilty to abandoning three dogs in circumstances likely to cause them unnecessary suffering.

A video showing the grim conditions inside the outbuildings at the Bank Top Stables left magistrates distressed when they witnessed the horrific scene.

Howard was also cautioned by the RSCPA over similar matters in September 2004, which were never put before a court because of insufficient evidence.

The case is just the latest in an appalling catalogue of cruelty that makes the North the animal cruelty capital of the country.

Earlier this month the RSPCA released its latest figures showing cases of animal cruelty in the region had leapt by about 42 per cent from 491 incidents to 655.

The number of jail sentences imposed by courts in the North C including the North-East and North Yorkshire C doubled from nine to 18.

ö Anyone with information about animal cruelty should contact the RSPCA national hotline on 08705-555999 or write to the RSPCA, Wild Watch, PO Box BR29, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 2XL.