CONVICTED (2012) | Shane Maurice Pott aka Shane Barton, born 27 July 1983, previously of Chinley, High Peak, Derbyshire, but as of 2022 believed to be in St Day, Redruth, Cornwall – abandoned his two Jack Russell dogs when he moved house, leaving them so hungry that one ate the other

RSPCA Inspector Lorna Campbell told the court how she had been called to the house in Furness Vale, Derbyshire, by a concerned member of the public in February 2012.

She described the moment she found the two Jack Russells – Nala, a female and Simba, a male – as “horrific”.

“When I saw Simba at the window it was obvious he was emaciated and when I looked in, I saw what I thought was a toy he’d chewed up.

“It took a moment before I realised the full horror of what it actually was, the remains of Nala. It was devastating,” she said.

The dogs’ owner, Shane Pott, had been offered advice by the RSPCA in July 2011. He was also given neutering vouchers and had had a third dog rehomed.

Ms Campbell added Simba’s survival was a “miracle”.

“The conditions in the house were terrible. The place was covered in faeces and the floor was slippery with urine.

“There was a shredded dog food bag on the floor, an empty tub of gravy granules, chewed towels and what was left of his companion.

“Tragically there was a bag of dog biscuits on the worktop which looked as though the dogs had been trying to reach it, but it was just too high,” she said.

Pott’s solicitor told the court his client had been finding it difficult to manage his responsibilities and moved with his children to stay at his mother’s home in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire.

In court Pott, who was apparently a social worker, admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering.

Simba recovered and was rehomed by the RSPCA.

Sentencing | 18-week custodial term; £500 in costs. 10-year ban, which expired August 2022.

BBC News