A MAN and woman pleaded guilty to five charges of animal neglect and cruelty when they appeared before magistrates yesterday.

Martin Aldworth and Denise Johnson admitted causing unnecessary suffering to birds and rabbits which they kept on allotments near their homes.

Aldworth, 36, of Hall Terrace, Willington, and Johnson, 34, of Hawes Crescent, Crook, admitted sharing responsibility for the site and livestock kept there.

The charges relate to three red hens, one of which died, a red cockerel and a black female rabbit which were all described as close to death.

Experts say that they were all severely underweight and are thought to have gone without food and water for at least two weeks.

Magistrates, sitting at Bishop Auckland yesterday afternoon, heard that RSPCA Inspector Gavin Butterfield visited two plots at Ivy Crescent Allotments, Roddymoor, near Crook, last September.

When he arrived he saw about 40 fowl running around on one of the plots and although they were visibly hungry and he could see no sign of any bird feed they were in a reasonable condition.

However, he soon made a grim discovery and found a number of dead animals on the site, in various stages of decomposition.

Lying among the carcasses was a black rabbit which was alive but very weak and in a poor condition.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: "There were a number of red hens which were effectively nothing but feathers and bones.

"The vet examined the animals that were removed from the site and said all were extremely thin. There was no food in their stomach or crop, they were dehydrated and they could barely stand.

"She believed they had suffered needlessly, from starvation and there was evidence of skin infections, lice and mites."

In mitigation, Andrew Clinton asked the court to adjourn sentencing so pre-sentence reports could be prepared on the pair, which would consider the mental health of the pair.

Magistrates adjourned the case to Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court, on March 30.

They recommended that sentencing is steered towards custody and said the pair are likely to be banned from keeping animals.