Convictions for animal neglect and cruelty have risen by almost a third in West Yorkshire, the RSPCA revealed today.

The charity’s Prosecutions Animal Report shows that it secured a total of 126 convictions in West Yorkshire in 2012 compared to 82 in 2011.

The report also notes the number of convictions has also risen by a third in England and Wales, from 3,114 in 2011 to 4,168 last year – a 33.8 per cent increase.

The RSPCA says there was also a 15.7 per cent increase in the number of defendants convicted.

Among the cases heard at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court last year was Anthony Lee, 23, of Coronation Way, Keighley, who was jailed for 23 weeks and banned for life from keeping animals after he admitted taking part in an animal fight and causing his lurcher dog to fight a badger.

One member of the bench at the court appeared to wipe away tears as she watched the mobile phone footage.

Prosecutor Nigel Monaghan told the court the RSPCA views the badger-baiting problem as “rife” in the Bradford and Keighley areas. He said: “In terms of animal cruelty, the RSPCA regard this case as bad in terms of suffering and cruelty as one can get.”

Also in November 2012 a case was heard concerning a boxer-cross dog which was allowed to almost starve to death in a car where she was living tethered to a handbrake, outside the owners’ then home in East Squire Lane, Manningham.

RSPCA inspector Sarah Briscoe told the court: “This dog was not only in a hot car but was so emaciated I thought she was dead. It wasn’t until she lifted her eyes slightly that I realised she was actually alive and I called the police. She was a bag of bones.”

Saima Bi, 26, and Kiran Hussain, 19, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by failing to provide her with a nutritionally-balanced diet and failing to meet her needs by failing to provide a suitable environment for her to live in.

They were banned from keeping any animals for five years. They were also sentenced to a 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £260 costs each. The dog was signed over to the RSPCA.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant has called on judges to take animal cruelty cases “far more seriously”.

He said his staff, volunteers and branches are “struggling to keep up” in their fight against “a growing animal cruelty crisis”.

The RSPCA is appealing for the public to hold a fundraising event during its awareness week which runs until Sunday. To donate, text Week to 78866 to give £3. Alternatively, call 0300 1238181 or visit rspca.org.uk/act to give any other amount to the charity.