A MAN who stamped a ferret to death has been banned from owning animals for ten years.

Jonathan Francis Proud, of Westfield, Frosterley, in Cuonty Durham, pleaded guilty to crushing the head of a female fawn ferret at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

The animal belonged to a family he lived near.

Thirty-year-old Proud found the animal wandering the estate where he lives and went over to it.

But when the frightened animal bit him, Kevin Campbell, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said Proud stamped on its head and killed it.

The court heard that Proud, who has a low intellect, had been bitten before and lost control when the animal retaliated.

Mitigating, Elaine Lamballe, said Proud had mental problems and submitted a medical report to the court.

She added: "In his young and adult life the defendant has had extensive psychological interventions and has a very low intellect. I think that is apparent."

Proud was fined £250 and banned from owning animals for ten years, though he can apply for the order to be lifted in five.

Chairman of the bench Gregory Hart, said: "Consider yourself a very lucky young man.

"What you did was totally unacceptable, that is no way to treat an animal or any life."