CONVICTED (2019) | Simon P Agnew, born 5 October 1972, of Sykes Street, Hull HU2 8AZ – left an elderly Doberman to starve. Simon Agnew’s 11-year-old Doberman, named Dobba, weighed just 23.8kg when he was handed into the Hull RSPCA branch just weeks before Christmas. An investigation led officers to Agnew who falsely claimed he had re-homed the dog, telling various lies to inspectors. Speaking about the case RSPCA Inspector Jilly Dickinson said: “Dobba was microchipped so we went straight round to Mr Agnew’s home and interviewed him the following week. He gave us various accounts of what had happened and claimed that he’d re-homed Dobba three months earlier. “He said he’d asked a friend to pretend to find him in the street and hand him in. He forgot that Dobba was still microchipped in his name. “We decide to appeal to the public for information via the press and were then contacted by someone who said Mr Agnew did still own Dobba.” In court Agnew pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Dobba, who has since recovered from his ordeal. Inspector Dickinson added: “Dobba was incredibly skinny and had clearly been left to get into such a state over a period of time. “You could see all of his ribs and his waist was so tiny that I could fit my fingers around it. “His head was so skinny that the point of his skull had protruded through his skin and caused a sore. He was covered in faeces and absolutely stank. “Thankfully, he’s now put on almost 7kg and is doing really well in our care. He’s already been reserved by a loving family and is due to go to his new home soon.” Sentencing: 12-month community order – including an alcohol treatment requirement; total of £385 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life. Yorkshire Post