CONVICTED (2014) | Reece Owen Gibbens, born 05/02/1993, of Pinfold Gate, Loughborough LE11 1BE – left his dog to starve to death while he was in custody

Reece Gibbens was sent to Glen Parva’s youth detention centre in April 2013, pending a trial.

When he was released six weeks later, on May 1, he did not return to his flat in Victoria Street, Leicester, moving instead to Loughborough.

The emaciated body of Gibbens’ pet dog was found in his Leicester flat on May 31 by a council worker sent to clean up the property for another tenant.

Kevin McCole, for the RSPCA, told the court: “The flat was in a total mess with faeces all over the floor and rotting food strewn everywhere.

“The remains of the dog were found lying on a pile of rubbish in the kitchen.”

Gibbens pleaded guilty to cruelty towards the adult male Staffordshire bull terrier by failing to feed him, leading to his death, and failing to monitor the dog while he was absent.

Mr McCole said Gibbens claimed he had notified staff at Glen Parva Young Offender Institute that he had a dog. However, nobody at the detention centre could recall Gibbens telling them about the dog.

Mr McCole said: “He did not make any inquiries about the whereabouts or the health of the dog, or return to the flat when he was released.

“This is a very serious case of abandonment leading to the death of a dog when it could have easily been avoided.”

A pathology report indicated the animal had been dead for five to seven days before May 31, and had suffered for days, if not weeks.

“The dog was left abandoned with no water supply. It is believed it had to take water from the toilet bowl,” said Mr McCole.

Sentence: a, total of 26 weeks in prison for animal cruelty plus theft and threatening behaviour and possession of a knife. Banned from keeping any animals for 10 years (expires April 2024).

Loughborough Echo