CONVICTED (2013) | Nathan Daniel Parker, born 19/01/1994 previously of Burmantofts in Leeds and as of May 2020 living at Red Kite Mews, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham S63 7FQ, and Samantha Jane Riley, born c. 1992, from Leeds – put their dead dog out with the rubbish after allowing her to starve to death.

Parker and Riley wrapped the body of Staffy Stella in a duvet cover and bin bag before dumping it.

The animal was found by RSPCA inspectors after a call to the charity’s cruelty line.

Inspector Sarah Bricoe said: “This dog starved and died in their home and was literally put out with the rubbish.”

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how the RSPCA found Stella among rubbish in the bin at the property in November 2012 last year after receiving a tip-off from a concerned member of the public.

A vet estimated she had been starved for six to eight weeks before her death. Parker and Riley initially denied she was theirs, but backed down as evidence mounted up. Witnesses told investigators they owned the dog and CCTV showed them taking the bin bag out.

The duvet cover she was wrapped in matched the pillow cases in the couple’s flat.

Inspector Bricoe added: “This was a very serious case which has rightly resulted in a very serious sentence.

“This dog suffered for a long time – the vet estimated she was starved for six to eight weeks before contracting pneumonia in the last 48 hours, when she would have been struggling to breathe.

“In cases like this we always hope for a life ban on keeping animals as the best way of preventing others from suffering in future.”

Sentencing | Parker – who was in prison for other matters – was jailed for 16 weeks. Riley was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She was also given a 30-day community order and ordered to pay £250 costs. Both were banned from keeping any animals for life.

BBC News