A WIDNES man has been banned from owning or looking after animals for the next five years.

Dawid Palyz admitted that his actions caused unnecessary suffering to a dog and a rabbit.

Both had to be ‘destroyed’, Warrington Magistrates’ Court, with the 39-year-old charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He indicated guilty pleas to both offences and was subsequently sentenced by magistrates.

The court heard how the suffering was discovered on September 29 last year at Palyz’s home on Bechers in Widnes.

He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals in the form of a German shepherd dog named Vaga and a rabbit called Snow.

With the former, the defendant failed to provide adequate or effective professional veterinary care and attention for signs of ill health in the form of skin disease, fur loss and an abnormal hindlimb stance from hip dysplasia.

In the case of Snow, he again failed to provide vet care for eye disease and an underweight bodily condition.

He admitted through his please that he knew or ought reasonably to have known that the failure would cause unnecessary suffering.

Before passing sentence, magistrates remarked that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate punishment in his case.

It was highlighted that both animals had to be ‘destroyed’, with Palyz given warnings about the treatment given.

However, having considered his guilty pleas and a decision that there was a ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’ in his case, the sentence was suspended.

Palyz, of Bechers in Widnes, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

During this period, he must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work

In addition, the court ordered that he pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £154 and court costs of £400.

Moreover, magistrates disqualified Palyz from owning, keeping or controlling animals for the next five years.

It was decided that no application can be made for the termination of the order within the next three years.