A mother who strangled a six-week-old puppy, bought for her daughter's birthday, has been warned she could be jailed.

Karen Fox, 40, killed the Jack Russell-type dog when she could not get to sleep because of its crying, Bradford magistrates were told.

The female puppy had been bought for £150 the day before as a birthday present, Nigel Monaghan, prosecuting for the RSPCA told the court yesterday.

He said the puppy's body was discovered wrapped in a blood-stained towel by a neighbour who tried to give it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

When she failed the RSPCA was contacted.

Mr Monaghan said: "This is a blatant act of animal cruelty."

He added: "The neighbour had seen the dog the day before and it was healthy. The next day it looked as though it was asleep and then she realised there was a problem.

"She tried mouth-to-mouth and that was unsuccessful."

A post-mortem examination later revealed signs of asphyxiation.

Mr Monaghan said when questioned Mrs Fox, of Sutton Avenue, Swain House, had fully admitted what she had done. When asked why she had done it she told them: "She has been crying all night."

She later admitted herself into Lynfield Mount hospital for psychiatric help and she admitted to staff also what she had done.

Mr Monaghan said she had told them: "It was whining and yelping. I picked it up and strangled it. I stopped when it had gone limp." He said it had happened at a time when she had not been feeling very well.

"The dog had been crying she could hear it crying and just got hold of it."

Mr Monaghan applied for a lifetime ban to prevent Fox keeping animals and said the RSPCA's prosecution costs were £763.

He said the family's other pet, a hamster, could be re-homed with another daughter.

A lengthy psychiatric report was handed in but magistrates decided they wanted a report from the probation officers before sentencing.

Paul Brunskill, for Fox, who pleaded guilty to causing cruelty to an animal, said she had received hate mail since the case had been reported and had been "punishing herself ever since".

He said it had been a very traumatic episode and she was now spending half the week at Lynfield Mount undergoing intensive therapy.

He said: " She has been punishing herself. The question is whether there is any further action needed."

He said her daughter had been bullied at school and needed a mentor as a result of the case.

Magistrates said they could not reach a decision without a probation officer's report.

Fox, who had no previous convictions, was told by magistrates that the offence was so serious that custody was an option.

She was granted unconditional bail until the next hearing before magistrates on April 19.