THE owners of a pet shop have won an appeal to overturn their convictions after being found guilty of animal cruelty charges.

In April, Craig Basford and Lauren Gibson, of Weardale Avenue, Billingham, near Stockton, received 16-week jail sentences, suspended for 12 months, after being found guilty of eight counts of causing unnecessary to a total of 18 animals.

However, a crown court judge has overturned the verdict, leaving Stockton Borough Council open to legal proceedings from the couple.

The council said it was extremely disappointed with the outcome of the appeal.

Mr Basford, 33, said: "The stigma of this is always going to be there - Ive been verbally abused in the street."

His partner, 26-year-old Miss Gibson said: "Animals are our passion - love isnt a strong enough word. Not being able to keep them these past three years has been hell."

The couple were running Petropolis pet shop, in Billingham, when the councils animal welfare officers visited in August 2006, following a complaint by a member of the public.

A month later officers carried out a search of both their house and the shop and found dead animals, others without food and water, and a smell of animal faeces and urine.

More than 350 live animals and 22 dead animals were seized from the two premises.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council's cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: "We are extremely disappointed at the outcome of this appeal. The fact remains that our officers found 22 dead animals on the premises, which were in a disgraceful state. This is not in doubt.

"Where we find such conditions, we have a statutory duty to act to protect the animals welfare and we will not shrink from that. We are still awaiting the detail of this ruling and will consider our position once we have it."