A woman left her dog alone in a house full of mess for three days with no food or water.

Police and RSPCA officers had to break down the door to Juliette Mottram's home to rescue her pet Siberian husky which had been left to fend for itself.

Animal welfare officers had been tipped off that the dog was shut inside Mottram's house.

Mottram, of Silver Birches, Small Dole, near Henfield, admitted failing to meet the dog's needs under the Animal Welfare Act when she appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court.

Mottram was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,281 in costs.

Police and RSPCA officers removed the husky from Mottram's home on February 15, but she has now been allowed to have it back.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said officers were satisfied that the offence was unlikely to be repeated.