Daniel Dearing admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog in May after leaving the six-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Dearing, of Middle Street, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was also banned from keeping animals for life.

He told Peterlee magistrates that he was too "tired" to feed the dogs.

'Time factor'

The court heard how the former car valet had moved out of the rundown terrace house which had no hot water or heating, but had left the dogs behind.

Two of the dogs called Ganja and Tigger only survived by eating the remains of the third, named Spot, magistrates heard.

When the dogs were discovered and Dearing was interviewed by the RSPCA, he said: "I was tired. I used to sleep in. I know I should have gone in every day - it was just a time factor."

John Ellwood, for the RSPCA, said the pets were found when the landlord went to evict Dearing from the house earlier this year.

He said: "In the opinion of the vet both these dogs had been caused unnecessary suffering by a lack of care and food for a number of weeks.

"There is no prosecution in respect of the dead dog. The RSPCA do not know why this dog died - all that is known is the two other dogs ate it."

Bill Davison, defending Dearing, said he had been suffering from depression.

He said: "He is as shocked as anyone is about what occurred to these animals.