The owner of a dog which almost starved to death has been banned from owning any animal.

Terry Chaff of Courtenay Avenue, Harrow Weald, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his 12-year-old black and tan German Shepherd, Max.

The 35-year-old was banned from owning any animal for five years and fined £100 by Harrow magistrates on Wednesday last week.

A report said Max was extremely underweight when he was brought in by RSPCA Inspector Jackie Paradis in October last year.

Chaff admitted he had neglected to care for Max.

Inspector Paradis said: ñMax was extremely thin to the point that if the RSPCA did not intervene when we did he would have starved to death soon afterwards,î she said.

RSPCA spokesman Jordan Burke said: ñI hope this case demonstrates that it is totally unacceptable to neglect pets and let them suffer.'