A woman who abandoned a dog and kitten in a High Wycombe flat has been disqualified from keeping animals for life after the dead bodies of the pets were discovered four months later.

The dead animals were found in Jamie-Lee McVey’s flat in Pettifer Way, High Wycombe, in March this year after investigators received complaints about a strong smell coming from the property.

Today at Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court, the 27-year-old, now of Northgate, Kent, was disqualified from keeping animals for life, sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay £580 costs.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to meet the needs of two animals at an earlier hearing in October.

The dog, a young black Patterdale terrier named Molly, was found on the floor next to a sofa, while the black kitten, named Nut Nut and thought to be aged around ten months-old, was found next to a crate in the property. The bodies were severely decomposed.

The court heard that post-mortem examination showed the deaths were due to starvation and dehydration.

RSPCA inspector Sara Hughes said it was one of the saddest cases she has had to deal with.

She said: “It was absolutely heart-breaking to see the bodies of these two animals in this way. It was obvious that they had died slowly and painfully as they were both completely emaciated.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how scared and distressed they must have been, not knowing where their next meal was coming from. On top of that, they were so thirsty that they had drank the toilet bowl dry.”

She added: “As RSPCA inspectors, we come across so many horrific cases and it is hard to forget them. This is one which has stayed in my mind ever since because it was so upsetting.”