A MAN whose two dogs were found starved and roaming the streets has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Shaun Peckham, 47, from Anscombe Close, Worthing, was prosecuted for animal cruelty after his Rottweiler called Kaiser and Labrador called Biscuit were found by passersby roaming the streets near his home.

The dogs were not chipped and were taken to be examined by a vet who said both pups were starving and that this was a case of cruelty.

The welfare team at Worthing District Council posted pictures of the dogs to their Facebook page, appealing for the owner to come forward.

Concerned residents gave up Peckham to the team and the police visited his property on December 22, 2014.

Two other dogs were found, but they were in healthy condition, and Peckham told the team Biscuit and Kaiser had in fact been stolen from him eight days before they were found.

He was interviewed under caution and said Kaiser was owned by his son but that he was responsible for the dog and that his son lived elsewhere. He accepted that Biscuit belonged to him.

He once again said the dogs had been stolen but had not reported it to the police, also telling them "Biscuit had always been thin".

The council's dog wardens then received an expert report which said the state of the dogs was the result of a "prolonged period of inadequate or inappropriate nutrition".

It would have taken the dogs eight weeks to reach the state they were in and so Peckham was taken to court where he pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Worthing Magistrates Court.

He was given a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, was disqualified from keeping pets for five years, was ordered to have his other two dogs Roxie and Pepper rehomed and must pay £3,356 in costs and fines.

Councillor Clive Roberts, executive member for environment at Worthing District Council, said: "Cruelty to animals will not be tolerated in Worthing and I congratulate the council's dog warden team for their hard work in bringing this clear case of failure to care to court and for our legal team in bringing this prosecution.

"The council's staff will report any known acts of animal cruelty in the district and will not hesitate in bringing other pet owners who fail to care for their pets to court."