CONVICTED (2017) | Jamie Birtwistle, born 31/05/1986, of Nuttall Street, Accrington BB5 2HL – left a dog and cat to starve to death and hid their bodies in a cupboard in his home. Birtwistle pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bella (pictured) and a cat called Storm by providing them with adequate food. When new tenants arrived at the property as Birtwistle was moving out, he told them not to go in the cupboard. The tenants ignored the warning and contacted the RSPCA and police after finding the dead animals Birtwistle admitted to not feeding the animals enough and only doing it ‘every other day’. Although he was aware they were losing weight he did nothing to address this. The new tenants found 30 portions of cat food and a tin of dog food in the property. Laura Haywood, defending, said it was a ‘very sad set of circumstances’. She told the court: “The defendant never set out to intentionally cause harm to these animals. “The issue seems to be when his girlfriend moved out of the premises. “He does have mental health issues and has been to his doctor who has referred him to The Mount in Accrington. “He is also on medication. He describes himself as hearing voices. “He does understand the reason why they died and that’s due to him failing to feed them. He understands that he should have sought help.” Miss Haywood said Birtwistle ‘had monetary issues at the time’ and is in receipt of benefits. Career criminal Birtwistle has multiple previous convictions including for violence against women. Sentencing: Jailed for 12 weeks. Banned from keeping any animal for a mere five years (expired October 2022). Lancashire Telegraph Additional information In June 2015 Birtwistle was given a suspended prison sentence following a vicious attack on a woman. He grabbed the woman by the neck and ‘tried to ram her head into a window’ leaving her ‘shaken and bruised’. Birtwistle, who at this stage had racked up 16 convictions for 23 previous offences including offences of battery, pleaded guilty to common assault. He was given a three-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation. Accrington Observer