A CIRENCESTER man has been banned for life from keeping animals after pleading guilty to starving a racing greyhound.

Brian Brunton, of Countess Lilias Road, left six-year-old Tara starved until she was only half of her proper weight.

The unemployed 49-year-old told Cheltenham Magistrates he had struggled to feed Tara when he stopped work after an accident.

The alarm was raised when the malnourished dog escaped from Brunton's flat and was spotted by a neighbour.

Prosecutor Charlotte Mitchell said: "Tara was very weak, dehydrated and her muscles had wasted. She had been starved over a period of weeks rather than days."

When she was found she weighed just 15kg, half of thr 30kg she should have weighed.

RSPCA inspectors swooped on Brunton's former address in Siddington to rescue the animal in May 2008 following an investigation.

Brunton initially denied he was responsible for Tara's emaciated condition, but changed his plea to guilty when due to stand trial yesterday.

Defending, Wendy Kingsbury, said Brunton had made efforts to have Tara rehomed after being forced to stop work due to injury.

Magistrates ordered Brunton to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community order.

He was also ordered to pay £500 towards the cost of the RSPCA prosecution.

He will not be allowed to make an application to revoke the ban for five years.

RSCPA inspector Chris Simpson said after the case that Tara "could barely stand" when she was rescued.

He said: "This was a very serious case for which the magistrates were considering a custodial sentence.

"It underlines that even if you are having financial difficulties you must not let caring for your pet slide."

Mr Simpson said Tara had fully recovered from her ordeal and had been rehomed.