A MUM who neglected two Staffordshire bull terriers has been banned for life from keeping any animals.

Donna Hughes, 42, was in tears when she was told the ban meant her children’s two Jack Russells would be taken by the RSPCA.

She left her two Staffies out in the December cold with only a woodchip board for shelter, Basildon magistrates heard.

Hughes admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Staffie Becky and Staffie cross Tia and failing to answer bail.

RSPCA officers found the dog without food, water or appropriate shelter at Hughes’ home in Hobart Road, Tilbury.

The garden was “in total disarray and dirt”, said RSPCA prosecutor Stuart Cooper.

He added: “Both were examined by a vet who indicated they were significantly underweight.

Because of the lack of suitable diet or environment, they were caused unnecessary suffering.”

Hughes, a single mother, said she had given the dogs away to friends as she could not look after them, but they had returned and were staying outside the house. She claimed she only neglected them for five days. Hugheswas orderedtopay £1,621 towards the charity’s prosecution cost and carry out 180 hours unpaid work.

She was banned from keeping any animals, with no right of appeal for five years.

Her teenage children’s Jack Russells were seized last night, after bench chairman Martin Hampson rejected Hayes’s tearful plea to let her children keep them.