A MAN has been banned from keeping animals after he stabbed a ‘much-loved’ family dog to death.

James Bamber, 29, killed the German shepherd cross called Ace at his home in Thursby Road, Burnley, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told that Bamber had been looking after Ace for one of his friends when the offence occurred.

Bamber, now of Heath Street, Burnley, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Ace, following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Magistrates fined him £250 with £500 court costs and banned him from keeping animals for 12 months.

Speaking after the case, the RSPCA said that Ace was a ‘much-loved’ family pet who had met an ‘horrific’ fate.

Deputy Chief Inspector Caroline Hall, of the RSPCA, said that friends of Bamber had gone to his house because they were concerned for his welfare as he had not been seen for several days.

She said that the men had to break into the house, where there was an altercation before Ace was stabbed.

Deputy Chief Inp Hall said: “This was absolutely devastating for the owners of Ace. It was a truly horrific case in which a much-loved family pet’s life was ended.” She confirmed that Ace died of his injuries at the scene and was later taken away by police to a local vets.

The court action prevents Bamber, who owned his own dog at the time, from being responsible for animals for the next year and RSPCA officials said they were content that the sentence satisfied the merits of the case.

The court heard that the offences was out of character from Bamber and a “one-off incident”.

The inspector said the court was satisfied that there would probably be no repeat of Bamber’s behaviour.