AN MP who has campaigned for tougher animal cruelty sentences today welcomed news that the Government plans to impose sentences of up to five years in prison.

Anna Turley started campaigning for a change in the law after a bulldog in her Redcar constituency had to be put down after enduring being thrown down the stairs and jumped on by brothers Andrew and Daniel Frankish.

The case of Baby the Bulldog shocked the nation after the brothers escaped prison, despite filming themselves throwing her down the stairs and kicking and punching the dog.

Another case in Redcar saw a dog, Scamp, buried alive in the woods after a nail was hammered into its head. The perpetrators received four month prison terms.

Labour MP Ms Turley submitted a private members bill, the Animal Cruelty (Sentencing) Bill in February, which aimed to raise the maximum sentence from six months to five years, but it was blocked by Parliament in March.

Now Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced Government plans to increase the term to five years in the most serious cases of animal cruelty.

He said it would target ‘those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals’, giving courts the power to hand out harsher jail terms as well as banning orders and fines.

Ms Turley said: “I am really pleased to see the Government finally recognise that the sentencing for animal cruelty is outdated and must be changed. After over a year of campaigning - petitions, debates, meetings with ministers and my private members bill, it’s great to see the pressure has paid off. The case for reform is overwhelming.

“Only one in ten perpetrators of animal cruelty receives a custodial sentence, and the laws haven’t changed since 1911. There is currently no deterrent and perpetrators are getting away with the most vile and despicable cruelty. What’s more, offenders often go on to abuse humans - domestic violence and animal abuse often go hand in hand.

“We will never know the full extent of the cruelty that goes on behind closed doors or the full scale of the suffering that these silent and defenseless animals endure. But by taking on this change in sentencing, we can show that this kind of cruelty has no place in our society and try to ensure that no animals have to suffer the way Baby and Scamp did.”

Mr Gove said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and so we must ensure that those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals face suitably tough punishments.”

Animal charities including the RSPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports also welcomed the move.