A COUPLE have been banned from keeping dogs after a starved Staffordshire Bull Terrier was found locked in their bathroom.

Portsmouth Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday how Charlene Reed and Daniel Jackman from Forton Road in Gosport kept their dog Mitzy locked in their bathroom without food or clean water.

RSPCA inspectors, who found the dog at the property on February 16, said piles of faeces on the bathroom floor while the dog had been left with half a bowl full of old water and an empty food bowl.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which Reed owned for nine years, had lots fur missing and her ribs showing through her skin.

The court also heard that when RSPCA inspectors saw Mitzy during an earlier visit to the property, on January 18, they spotted that she had multiple sores which she was scratching.

Inspectors tried to encourage Jackman and Reed to take better care of their dog and visited and contacted the couple 16 times about his welfare.

However, they were forced to get a police warrant to rescue Mitzy after their pleas were ignored.

RSPCA Inspector Jen Ride said: “Mitzy was in a terrible state when she was rescued.

“She had been left without food or clean water in a dirty bathroom. She was very underweight with all her ribs showing.

“The neglect suffered by Mitzy could have been easily avoided but she was simply left to suffer without the care she needed and deserved.”

Insp Ride said that Mitzy has made a full recovery at The Stubbington Ark RSPCA Animal Shelter.

Reed and Jackman were convicted in their absence two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Mitzy and two charges of failing in a duty to ensure the animal’s welfare.

Jackman was given an 18-month disqualification from keeping dogs, an 18-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, £250 in costs and a victim surcharge of £85.

Reed was also given an 18-month disqualification from keeping dogs, a 12-month community order curfew which means she must remain in her home between 8am and 8pm for two months. She was also ordered to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £125 in costs and an £85 victim surcharge.