CONVICTED (2016) | Sheila Bilsborough, born c. 1956, of Lilford Avenue, Walton, Liverpool L9 3AT – neglected her pet dog so badly she had to be put down.

Sheila Bilsborough refused to take her King Charles spaniel Abbey to a vet until she became emaciated and had to be put down.

When mother-of-three Bilsborough eventually took Abbey for treatment she weighed just 1.9kg and had a score of one out of nine on a scale used by vets to assess body condition. A healthy female dog of her breed should weigh between 8kg and 12kg.

Bilsborough was given a lifetime ban alongside a 16-week suspended prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, on April 14, 2016 after pleading guilty to animal neglect. She appealed against the banning order and her case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court in August 2016.

Peter Mitchell, opposing the appeal on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “This was a period of prolonged neglect resulting in the animal being put down.”

He said District Judge Andrew Shaw, who imposed the ban, found that Abbey had “suffered greatly” in the last months of her life.

But Claire Jones, representing Bilsborough, said her client had cared for Bailey “impeccably” for eight years.

Ms Jones said Bilsborough found that Abbey had complex medical conditions relating to her pancreas and went to the breeder from whom she bought the dog.

The breeder had offered a refund but made her aware that the dog would be put down, prompting Bilsborough to decide to keep her.

But despite Abbey losing weight rapidly throughout 2015, Bilsborough failed to seek veterinary help until the dog was fitting and desperately ill.

Deputy Circuit Judge Elliot Knopf, presiding over the appeal, said: “The evidence and that poor body condition have to support the conclusion that the dog had been suffering unnecessarily to varying degrees throughout its life. It had been unwell for some time and clearly had been suffering considerably in its final days.”

Judge Knopf said the appeal bench would have reached the same conclusion as Judge Shaw “without hesitation” and dismissed the appeal.

The ban, which was temporarily suspended awaiting the appeal, meant Bilsborough had to give up her other dog.

Sentence: 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, Lifetime ban on owning animals but can appeal after five years.

Liverpool Echo