CONVICTED (2013) | Kerri Frances Lindo, born 30 June 1988, of 22 Leven Street, Middlesbrough TS1 4HR – starved a dog to death and dumped his body in a wheelie bin

The emaciated body of a dog named Buster was found wrapped in a duvet cover in a wheelie bin. When police entered the Orwell St property of convicted crack cocaine dealer Lindo they found an identically-patterned duvet on a bed inside.

It was discovered that Buster had been kept outside in the back yard during the cold winter months. The yard was strewn with rubbish and faeces and the dog bowls contained only rainwater.

Lindo showed very little remorse during interview, admitting Buster had looked “skinnyish and then got diarrhoea” about four months previously.

She said she had bought some worming tablets but no veterinary treatment had been sought.

A post-mortem identified no underlying medical causes for Buster’s emaciation; he had died from malnutrition.

He had not been provided with adequate nutrition for at least a month and the lack of shelter during the freezing conditions would have hastened the onset of his death.

Sentence: four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, 12-month supervision order by probation, 120 hours of unpaid work, £200 costs, £80 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for life but can apply for the ban to be lifted in 10 years.

Northern Echo