The RSPCA said it was pleased with the custodial sentence

David Lee Jones, 27, of Ebbw Vale, abandoned his black and tan cross breed bitch after losing his keys to a council house.

The dog was shut in a small room in the property for a three weeks and suffered an "agonising" death, the court heard.

Plaster had been gouged from the room's walls indicating the animal had tried to escape.

RSPCA inspector Edwina Davidson was called to the property by police and investigated the case.

She said she was "absolutely delighted" with Jones' sentence.

I lost sleep over this case because it was so harrowing Edwina Davidson, RSPCA inspector

She added: "It is quite rare for a custodial sentence to be handed out. They generally only happen in the severest of cases.

"The magistrates obviously took a very dim view of this case and at least Mr Jones will have some time to reflect on his actions."

Jones had pleaded guilty on 10 April, at Blackwood Magistrates Court to abandoning the dog and causing it to die of starvation before being sentenced at Caerphilly on Thursday.

Magistrates heard that the dog was discovered on 26 October, 2005, when police entered a property in Newtown, Ebbw Vale.

It was later established the dog had been deprived of food and water for three weeks and could have gouged the walls to extract moisture.

'Really sad'

The court heard that Mr Jones attempted unsuccessfully to break into the property and had not called the council for help because he thought he'd be charged.

The police went to the property on another matter and discovered the dog.

They then called RSPCA inspector Ms Davidson.

She added: "I lost sleep over this case because it was so harrowing. It makes me really sad when I think about the suffering that poor dog went through.

"I don't often get so involved but I still find it difficult looking at the pictures.

"Seeing the walls scraped away was probably the most distressing thing because it gave some indication of what the dog went through.

"The vet said it would have suffered a great deal of distress in the final week of its life."