Pets starved to death

Nicholas Michael Ian King-Magee, of 12 Chestnut Way, admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the rabbits and two charges of failing to provide necessary care to the budgies.

RSPCA inspector, Simon Aggett visited King-Magees home at 20 Elm Lane, Milford Haven, in June. The front door and windows were boarded up and it was only after getting help from a police officer and a carpenter that inspector Aggett was able to gain entry through a window frame.

Inside, in a room with dog faeces on the floor, he found a bird cage containing two dead budgies. The only water in the cage was stagnant and filled with bird droppings. There was no food in the cage.

A veterinary inspection revealed that the birds had died from lack of food. King-Magee was interviewed and accepted that he owned the budgies He claimed that the birds had been flying around earlier that day and had not seemed distressed.

In May, Inspector Aggett was called to King-Magees new home in Chestnut Way. Three longhaired rabbits were found on the premises, two of which were dead while the third was seriously malnourished. There was no evidence of any food or water in the house except for a tub of margarine on the floor.

The two dead rabbits were examined and found to have died from either malnourishment or dehydration. The intestines of one rabbit contained nothing but a small amount of margarine.

In interview, King-Magee said that he was looking after the rabbits for a friend. He said that he thought he looked after them pretty well except now and then when money was tight.

Defending, Mr James Subbiani said that King-Magees disorganised lifestyle had contributed to his neglect of the animals.

Magistrates banned King-Magee from looking after any kind of animal for five years and ordered him to pay £300 towards the RSPCA prosecution costs.

The third rabbit has since been nursed back to health.