NATASHA CORBETT SENTENCED IN HARTLEPOOL FOR NEGLECTING DOGS

Natasha Kaye Corbett, born on February 16, 1988, and residing at Meryl Gardens, Stockton Road, Hartlepool TS25 2PL, was convicted in 2020 of neglecting and starving two dogs kept in pens within an outbuilding. The single mother pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog named Lucky and failing to ensure the welfare of a second dog, Otis.

Veterinary examinations revealed that Lucky had a body condition score of just 1 out of 9 and was suffering from painful, matted fur, which required shaving. Otis was found to be significantly underweight, with a body condition score of 2 out of 9.

Prosecutor Stewart Heywood explained that an RSPCA officer attended Corbett’s home in early October 2019 following concerns about the dogs’ well-being. The officer observed that the dogs were kept in metal pens inside an outbuilding and immediately needed veterinary attention.

Corbett admitted to relying on her children to feed the dogs but acknowledged she did not check whether they were doing so properly. The prosecutor noted that Corbett had previously received an RSPCA caution in 2018 after admitting to causing suffering to puppies.

A spokesman for the probation service stated that Corbett, a former pupil at Manor College of Technology, works full-time as a senior sales assistant at BrightHouse. She is a single mother of two sons, aged nine and 11, who had been responsible for caring for the dogs.

He added, “Ms Corbett now recognises that the responsibility to care for the dogs was hers. Due to her ignorance and lack of finances, the dogs were not cared for as they should have been. She feels guilty about what happened.”

Defence solicitor Andrew Teate explained that the dogs were brought into the family by Corbett’s former partner, who was later imprisoned. He emphasized that her cats were well looked after and that the RSPCA had no concerns regarding their care. He also stated, “The children were caring for the animals, she accepts with the benefit of hindsight that was unsatisfactory.”

In sentencing, Corbett received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with a four-week curfew. She was banned from keeping all animals for ten years and had a deprivation order placed on her cats.

Additional information includes her Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/tashacorbett88/.

Source: Hartlepool Mail