A MAN whose pet dog was found with its leg broken and "dangling loosely" was yesterday disqualified from keeping animals for a year .

After the judgement was read out, Kevin Walls, 30, of Geneva Road, Darlington, stormed out of South Durham Magistrates' Court, despite orders from the bench to remain.

The 30-year-old returned minutes later and apologised for his behaviour.

The RSPCA seized Walls' cross-bred dog last month when it was found unable to put weight on one leg.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting, said: "The dog had both bones in its leg broken from the top. Its leg was dangling loosely."

A vet's report said the broken leg would have occurred about five days before the inspectors found it.

Walls had pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.

He said it broke its leg one day before the RSPCA inspector came round.

Callum Terry, defending, said his client had failed to check his dog in the morning because he was preoccupied with getting to work.

He said: "It was not a conscious decision to let the dog suffer. He loved his dog."

Walls, who has outstanding court fines of £700, was issued with a six-month community rehabilitation order and disqualified from keeping animals for 12 months.

His dog has since recovered from its injury and has been rehomed.