A MIDDLESBROUGH man has been jailed for six months and banned from keeping animals for life after a court heard how his puppy had been subjected to at least three blunt traumas in her short life - with the final attack leading to her death.

Magistrates sitting at Teeside Court on Wednesday (November 10) said the case - involving a seven month-old pug called Ruby - was the worst case of animal cruelty they had ever dealt with.

A post mortem examination carried out on behalf of the RSPCA found Ruby to have multiple severe injuries including numerous broken bones. These included a broken femur, broken pelvis, numerous broken ribs on both sides, broken jaw on both sides, broken bones in her neck, a severely fractured skull and a lacerated tongue.

James Wright-King, 24, of Darwen Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of five animal welfare offences.

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His partner Jasmine Lee Smith, 20, was found guilty on two counts. It was accepted she was not involved in the incidents but was found guilty of failing to provide a safe environment and failing to get vet treatment for the dog. The pair had denied all charges.

The court heard how the recently deceased body of seven-month old Ruby was taken to a vets in Middlesbrough on November 17 last year by Wright-King.

Wright-King told the vet he had fallen on top of her while playing and heard her neck snap.

But as the injuries were suspicious the dog’s plight was reported to the RSPCA, and inspector Krissy Raine was sent to investigate. She was told Ruby was dead on arrival at the vets but must have died very recently as she was still warm.

The Northern Echo: RubyRuby

Due to their concerns about the injuries they gave Ruby’s body an X-ray and she was found to have fractures to her neck, pelvis, femur and three ribs. She also had a very deeply lacerated tongue which had been badly bleeding.

Krissy was told Ruby had also been seen by the vet in the past for lameness and a burn/scald injury.

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