A dog owner who allowed his Staffordshire bull terrier puppy to starve to death has avoided jail.

Instead Damian Sproston, from West Bromwich, was banned from owning any animals for 10 years. A court heard that he also looked after another dog which was severely emaciated after weeks of not being fed properly.

Sproston, aged 24, had admitted four counts of causing unnecessary suffering, failing to adequately feed the dogs Ice and Luga and failing to get proper veterinary care at a previous hearing and appeared before the town’s magistrates court yesterday for sentence.

He was also ordered to pay £250 court costs and was given 200 hours of unpaid work.

The RSPCA were alerted after Sproston, of Harry Price House, Hartlebury Road, Oldbury, took dead puppy Ice to a vet to have it cremated, West Bromwich magistrates heard.

The vet was so shocked at the weight and condition of the dog that she offered Sproston a free appointment to bring in his other dog Luga, but he did not turn up.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “When he didn’t turn up the vet contacted the RSPCA, they attempted to contact him by phone and at his home but there was no answer. After a few attempts police forced entry.”

He added: “There was no food in the flat for the dogs and there was urine and excrement on the floor.”

Inspectors found Staffie Luga in an emaciated state.

According to a veterinary report both dogs had gone around four weeks without being fed properly.

The surviving pet has been rehomed.

Mr Sutton added: “The dog had suffered a slow and distressing death due to starvation and disease which would have taken place over a period of weeks.”

Defending, Mr Joginder Niggar said Sproston had lost his job and was not able to afford to feed the animals properly.