THREE people were banned for life yesterday from keeping any animal in what magistrates called the worst case of neglect they had ever seen.

Two dogs were abandoned in the yard of an empty house in Thornaby, Teesside, when the two women and a man moved home.

One dog starved to death after eating wire, wood and plastic.

The other dog survived, and after five weeks of care in an Rspca rescue shelter, it was found a new home.

Simon Catterall, prosecuting for the Rspca, told Teesside Magistrates' Court that the neglect had shocked case-hardened officers.

Life bans were imposed on Christine Dawson, 37, her boyfriend, David Mitchinson, 30, and his mother, Kathleen Jaffray, 47, all of Roworth Road, Middlesbrough.

Mitchinson and Dawson were also ordered to do the maximum of 100 hours work in the community, with a three-year community rehabilitation order.

Jaffray was sentenced to 90 hours and two years' rehabilitation.

The women pleaded guilty to two offences of causing suffering to the dogs last September and October, and Mitchinson admitted one of permitting suffering.

They were all ordered to pay £100 costs.