A DEPRESSED ex-con has been banned from owning pets for five years after starving his pet dog and her four puppies into an emaciated state.

Andi Kilgallon, 23, of Spindle Tree Court, Pinehurst, avoided another spell in jail, but has been told he must do 150 hours of unpaid work and face up to life without Rolo, his healthy Staffordshire bull terrier of six years, which he described as his best friend.

Kilgallon pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary harm to his Staffie cross bitch Tia and her four five-week old puppies.

The court heard an RSPCA animal welfare officer visited Kilgallon’s property in August after receiving numerous reports regarding his dogs’ welfare.

When the officer entered the property she found Tia and her pups in a grave condition.

Tanwyn James, prosecuting, said: “The female bitch was emaciated, there was no water for her and the puppies had only an old T-shirt to lie on.

“When the officer asked Mr Kilgallon about the condition of the dog he said she had always been like that, especially since she had unexpectedly given birth a few weeks earlier.”

The court heard Tia weighed 10kg when she was taken into veterinary care – a healthy Staffie should weigh between 16 and 18kg.

A vet believed Tia may have been starved for more than three weeks prior to the visit. Kilgallon admitted he had never taken the animal to the vet.

Ms James also said the vet’s findings disputed Kilgallon’s assertion Tia had always been underweight.

“She had a prominent spine, muscle wastage across the shoulders and was emaciated,” she said.

“When she was given food, she began eating ravenously and continued to look for food after the bowl had been taken away," she said.

“Her puppies had bloated abdomens and again ate the milk substance with great enthusiasm.”

The hearing in November heard that, by October, Tia had reached a healthier weight of 17 kg but was so traumatised by the ordeal that she was put to sleep on humane grounds.

“She had made good progress but when she was put in kennels she began self-harming and injuring herself because she was traumatised and so she was not fit to be rehomed," Ms James said. at the time. "She was sadly put to sleep on these reasons,”

One of the puppies was also put down due to a neurological condition.

Defending Kilgallon, Ben Worthington said his client was remorseful and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“He did hand over the dog and the pups once it was explained to him the RSPCA could get them the veterinary care they needed,” he said.

“He was surprised when she had pups and he did his best to look after them and the dog. He was feeding them, though perhaps not enough.”

Mr Worthington said Kilgallon did not have the money to take the dogs to the vet, he was depressed and struggling with the break-up of his relationship with the mother of his children.

Social services had become involved in the care of his six-month-old son and four-year-old daughter.

“This has been a very stressful time for him and with the animals he took his eye off the ball somewhat," said Mr Worthington.

“He is very remorseful and very embarrassed about what happened.”

Kilgallon has also lost his job since his crimes became public.

He must fulfil up to 20 rehabilitation activities as well as pay court fees of £410.