A puppy became dehydrated and very thin after a prisoner “did nothing” for her when he began a custodial sentence, a Court heard.

Tyrone Jackman, 36, was banned from keeping animals for five years after he admitted failing to ensure the needs were met of a Staffordshire bull terrier puppy called Caitlin and failing to provide “adequate environmental enrichment” for her, from March 22 to April 8.

Jackman, of Westcroft Road, Great Horton, who gave his address to Bradford Magistrates’ Court yesterday as HMP Hatfield, also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog between April 1 and 8.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Nigel Monaghan said the dog was found in a “very thin and dehydrated condition” after inspectors were alerted by housing company support workers who found her. The prosecutor said: “If they hadn’t gone to the premises it clearly would have died. It would have starved to death.”

The court was told Caitlin has made a good recovery.

Magistrates sentenced Jackman to a 12-month conditional discharge and banned him from keeping any animal for five years.

Mitigating, Mohammed Arif said Jackman had thought officers would visit his home and that they would find the puppy.