A MAN was banned for life from keeping animals yesterday after he admitted drowning nine puppies.

Matthew Douglas, 27, from Cringle Court, Redcar, east Cleveland, appeared before Teesside magistrates and admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.

The court heard he drowned them in a pillowcase in a bucket of cold water in his garden.

Douglas said he thought the shock of hitting the water would kill the puppies.

As well as being banned from keeping pets, he was ordered to do 100 hours of community service and he was put on 12 months probation.

After the hearing, Inspector Kevin Foy, of the RSPCA, said: "Drowning puppies and kittens is in folklore as a way to dispose of them, and this shows that it won't be tolerated.