Central City News: Jail for man who kept pups in filth; HOCKLEY: Squalid conditions shocked RSPCA inspector, court told.

Byline: By Ross McCarthy

THE owner of three puppies which were kept in a "filthy and squalid"

small cage has been jailed for three months by a Birmingham court.

Trevor Hayles, 39, of All Saints Street, Hockley, who admitted six charges of causing an animal unnecessary suffering, was also ordered to pay pounds 500 costs and was banned from keeping a dog for ten years.

His partner Martina Docherty, 34, who admitted the same charges, was put on a 12 month supervision order, fined pounds 75, ordered to pay pounds 100 costs. She also received a ten-year ban.

Nineteen-year-old Sharna Davie, living at the same address, was ordered to do 100 hours' unpaid work, was fined pounds 75, ordered to pay pounds 250 costs and was banned for ten years from keeping a dog, after admitting the six charges.

District Judge David Chinery said at Birmingham Magistrates' Court: "It is beyond comprehension that anyone could have failed to see the suffering to which these dogs were subjected."

James Cooper, prosecuting, said an RSPCA inspector who went to the house was shown a cage measuring 4ft by 3ft, with three Rottweiler puppies covered in urine and faeces.

Mr Cooper said a worm was clearly visible on the cage floor amid a thick layer of urine and faeces..