A JOBLESS couple "patched up" their kitten's badly injured jaw with freezer ties to save on vets' bills after it fell out of a window.

Bishop Auckland magistrates heard today how 12-week-old Tammy went through "a great deal of suffering" as the wire cut off her blood supply and the gaping wound became infected.

Anthony Raymond Dannatt, 22, and Christina Louise Warcup, 18, both of Grange Road, Darlington, County Durham, took the ginger kitten to the vets two days later, on August 30 last year.

The pair pleaded guilty to causing her unnecessary suffering by failing to provide proper care and attention, and were each banned from keeping animals for five years.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said a vet's examination revealed: "It had a swollen and infected lower jaw with what appeared to be a piece of wire protruding from the chin.

"It was wrapped between and around the canine teeth and tightened under the chin, which caused the blood supply to be cut off."

The vet's checks also revealed burn marks to the ears and that she was very thin.

The kitten underwent an operation to remove the wire and repair the wound. She survived and was later re-homed.

When questioned by the inspector, Dannatt said Tammy had fallen out of a window when they were asleep and they had used wire from freezer ties to pull the wound together.

He thought it would help if he "patched it up himself" and was also worried about huge vet's fees.

Rory Todd, representing the couple, said: "They felt by putting this wire over they would be helping heal the injury and save themselves some money in the progress.

"They didn't intend to cause the suffering but they accept as a result of their actions that the cat suffered."

Magistrates also ordered the couple to pay £150 costs each.

RSPCA Inspector Garry Palmer said after the case: "We're absolutely appalled by the injuries that have been caused. If people take animals on they should be responsible enough to get in touch with a vet."

The Northern Echo is committed to highlighting cases of animal cruelty through its successful Animal Watch campaign.