A MOTHER who kept the rotting carcasses of two dead rabbits at her house has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Magistrates said they were "absolutely appalled", by the offences committed by Victoria Spiers, who admitted charges of causing unneccessary suffering to three rabbits and a dog.

The RSPCA inspector dealing with the case said it was one of the worst cases of neglect he had dealt with.

Paul Hughes, prosecuting, told Hyndburn magistrates that Spiers, 25, had kept the two dead rabbits in separate hutches in the back yard of her home in Emma Street, Accrington.

One of the hutches was also shared by another rabbit, which was still alive.

The incidents came to light when RSPCA Inspector Simon Small visited the house last November.

He found two dogs and a cat, said to be in good condition. Another dog, a German shepherd called Zeus, was underweight with bones showing.

"The living room was a complete mess, there was rubbish all over the floor, and dog faeces," said Mr Hughes.

The court heard that Inspector Small found the rabbits when he went into the backyard, which was also full of dog faeces.

Drinks containers on both hutches were empty and contained algae, magistrates were told. There was very little bedding and no food, Mr Hughes said.

Spiers told the inspector she had one cat, three dogs, one rabbit, two frogs, 28 goldfish and 19 tropical fish, the court heard.

Mr Hughes said Spiers told Inspector Small she could not understand it because she had fed them every day.

"The grey rabbit was badly decomposed and the carcass was severely maggot-ridden and emaciated. It weighed 1.2kg and had been decomposing for over a week," he said.

There were no external maggots on the body of the other rabbit, which weighed 1.3kg, but there were some in the mouth, he said.

"It had been dead for three or four days and the cause of death was probably starvation.

"The German shepherd and the rabbits had been caused unnecessary suffering for at least three weeks."

Kaye Raywood, defending, told the court Spiers had been ill and was still receiving help from her doctor. She asked magistrates to give her credit for her guilty pleas.

"During October last year she had a nervous breakdown. She experienced a relationship breakup and was left with one child and was struggling to cope on her own.

"She had financial problems among others."

In addition to the ban, chairman of the bench Pam Barton imposed fines totalling £1,081.60, including £500 costs, and told Spiers she had been lucky to escape a community penalty.