A WELL-TO-DO tramp was fined for neglecting one of his dogs yesterday - but left court boasting he would still have £50,000 left in a savings account.

Mel Bird spends most of his days holding court in the market shelter in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, and his nights in a barn on the town's Moor Road.

Until recently, a lurcher and spaniel were more often than not at his side.

However, he appeared before magistrates in Richmond yesterday to plead guilty to a charge of neglecting the springer spaniel - known as Patch - although he insisted there were mitigating circumstances.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Andrew Clarke told magistrates that on February 21, an inspector with the animal welfare charity had reason to call at the barn where Bird stays at night.

There was no reply to his knock except the sound of the dogs scratching on the other side of the door so, as it was not locked, he opened it to observe their living conditions inside.

Mr Clarke said the inspector described the conditions as squalid, but what concerned him more was the spaniel, which appeared to squat in some discomfort as he was leaving.

Closer inspection revealed the animal's rectum was blocked with matted fur and dried faeces and it was therefore impossible for the dog to defecate naturally.

As a result, the inspector decided Patch needed immediate attention and the animal was taken to a nearby vet for treatment.

Mr Clarke told the court a 4lb mass was removed from the dog's rear quarters in a 90-minute operation that required a general anaesthetic - and probably saved the animal's life.

Bird was represented by a solicitor but frequently interrupted proceedings himself, telling magistrates he had been in hospital for burns after an accident in the barn and had left his dog in the care of a friend.

However, as the man's own dog had puppies, he found it hard to cope with the extra responsibility and Patch's condition had deteriorated.

Bird claimed that both men had tried to rectify Patch's problem but found it almost impossible, as the spaniel had been terrified of scissors since the same RSPCA inspector had hurt the dog with a pair during a previous attempt to remove lumps of matted fur from its coat.

Magistrates fined Bird £400, with £523 costs, and ordered that Patch remains in the care of the RSPCA until he can be found a new owner.

Bird was allowed to keep his other dog but was close to tears when he understood his spaniel was to be confiscated.

However, he was also characteristically defiant, first checking if he could be punished further before telling the Bench he had £50,000 in a savings account "just to rub it in".