A DEPRESSED pet owner let his two dogs starve to death because he was scared to go home after being threatened, a court heard.

James Cooksley, 31, left Rottweiler Tyson and collie Lilly without food or water for six weeks alone in a house in Bedminster.

Having "gone to pieces" following a number of personal problems, the pets were the last thing on the pub relief manager's mind, Bristol magistrates were told yesterday.

Prosecuting, Kevin Withey said a neighbour who was investigating a foul smell at the back of Cooksley's former home in Wedmore Vale earlier this year found the carcass of a dead dog in a large green rucksack.

An RSPCA inspector came and found not only was there a dead Rottweiler with blood around its nose, but also a black and white Collie in another part of the bag. Both were adult, emaciated, with bones and joints visible through their fur and were examined by an RSPCA vet.

Mr Withey said: "The conclusions of the vet were these – that both of these animals had been deprived of regular food and water and as a consequence of that, both of them had starved to death."

He said the vet also concluded they would have suffered for "many days" and that the tragedy was avoidable.

Cooksley, of no fixed address, admitted failing to provide the two dogs with a "nutritionally-balanced diet" suitable for their needs, between December 1 last year and March 8 this year, which led to their deaths.

John Roberts, representing Cooksley, described the case as "extremely disturbing" and "tragic".

He told the court that in August last year Cooksley came home to find his partner of ten years Victoria had left him, and taken their six-year-old son with her.

He was also having financial problems at the time and his mum had to have her legs amputated because of illness, Mr Roberts added.

The court heard that he was confronted by suspected criminals, and in the following weeks was burgled and received death threats.

Fearing for his safety, Cooksley did not go back to the house in Bedminster, preferring to stay at the pub, Mr Roberts said.

He and his partner had the pets for more than two years and a neighbour had given a statement saying they had always looked after them well, the court was told.

"This was not someone who had a history of mistreating his animals," Mr Roberts said. "He shows great remorse"

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be carried out.