THE man responsible for one of the region's worst animal cruelty cases was yesterday jailed for six months and banned from keeping animals for life.

Lee Howard was sentenced to custody for four charges of animal cruelty and neglect relating to the deaths of 29 animals.

The 39-year-old had admitted causing unnecessary suffering to 13 horses, four dogs, 11 hens and a rabbit at an earlier hearing.

Howard, of Douglas Street, Middlesbrough, also pleaded guilty to abandoning three dogs in circumstances likely to cause them unnecessary suffering.

Sickened RSPCA inspectors discovered the animals' rotting bodies at Bank Top Stables, at Trimdon, County Durham, last May when the public reported putrid smells at the site.

The three rescued animals- rottweiler Luke and border collie bitches Queen and Princess- were re-homed along with eight puppies Princess gave birth to weeks after the rescue.

Magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe, heard that Howard had left the animals locked in the stables without food or water for several weeks causing them to die of starvation and dehydration.

Jane Scott, in mitigation, said Howard had been a trustworthy animal worker but lost control of his life and suffered depression at the time of the offences because his mother was dying of cancer.

"I appreciate that this is an extremely emotive case but the fact is Mr Howard just could not cope," she said.

The court also heard that Howard had been cautioned by the RSCPA over similar matters just eight months earlier, which were never put before a court because of insufficient evidence.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting, said: "In September 2004 Mr Howard was given an adult caution by the RSPCA for similar matters of causing unnecessary suffering to seven dogs, six hamsters, four Chinese hamsters and three birds."

Imposing the maximum sentence available to the magistrates, chair of the bench David Beattie said: "You should really feel absolutely ashamed of yourself. I have never seen something like this in my life."