#MostEvil | Katie Louise Oldridge, born 21 December 1985, of 10 Meadowbank Road, Hull HU3 6XW – left her dog to starve to death at her home.

Oldridge pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences in relation to her abandonment of a Staffordshire bull terrier named Frank.

The pet was found lying dead in a kitchen next to an empty tin of dog food after being abandoned between April 10 and May 14 last year.

Oldridge had left a bowl of water but no food was found within his reach and the floor was covered in a large amount of dried out faeces.

RSPCA Inspector Jilly Dickinson said: “The kitchen door had a baby gate in the frame.

“I found a dog food tin on the kitchen worktop which contained mouldy remains of food in the bottom of it and an empty box of dog treats which appeared to contain faeces.

“There was an overwhelming smell of faeces and decomposing flesh in the property.”

As she placed Frank’s body into an RSPCA evidence bag, a large quantity of live maggots of various sizes dropped from his head. Frank was incredibly thin, and she could see all of his bones.

A vet report concluded Frank likely suffered for a number of weeks before his eventual death.

The investigation found that the level of emaciation coupled with the ingestion of foreign materials suggested he felt hunger and ate anything he could to try and offset that feeling.

The lack of fat and muscle tissue also suggested that his body had used up its internal energy resources rather than having adequate nutrition provided.

The court found that Frank’s basic needs were not met and he had suffered as a result.

The court heard mitigation put forward that Oldridge was dealing with personal issues before the offence and became dependent on alcohol.

In sentencing the 34-year-old, magistrates commented: “We consider this to be a deliberate act of neglect – one of the worst, if not the worst, we have had the misfortune to hear as a bench of magistrates.

“We are satisfied that this case justifies a sentence of imprisonment but for your guilty plea and lack of previous convictions in combination with your personal circumstances we are persuaded to suspend the sentence.”

Sentencing | 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for two years; 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; 200 hours of unpaid work in the community. Ordered to pay a total of £428 in costs and charges. Lifetime ban on owning animals, which can be appealed after 10 years.

Hull Live