A Shipley man has been banned from keeping dogs for five years after he admitted cruelty to two Akitas.

Mohammed Khalique, 30, of Beamsley Road, failed to provide adequate care for a skin condition between January 2 and 23, which left eight-year-old Sisquo with scabs, weeping sores and mites living in upper layers of his skin, Bradford Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

The skin condition also resulted in weight loss which left the dog at 38.4kg, when he should have weighed 50kg, prosecutor Nigel Monaghan told the court. His skin condition, and bad temperament, led to his being put down after he was discovered by RSPCA inspectors.

Khalique was also charged with failing to meet Sisquo’s needs because of the skin condition, and failing to meet the needs of Sisquo and another dog, Foxy, by confining them in an unsuitable environment.

The court heard the animals were being kept as guard dogs at an address in White Abbey Road, Bradford.

RPSCA inspectors in January found the yard covered in faeces, and with bits of plastic and wood causing potential hazards.

Sentencing Khalique to a 12-month community order with 250 hours’ unpaid work, ordering him to pay court costs of £300, and banning him from keeping dogs for five years, chairman of the magistrates’ bench Andrew Rogerson said: “Based on the fact you are considered suitable for unpaid work that is the route we are going to take.

“Cruelty to animals is serious enough for us to make a community order.”

In mitigation for Khalique, Sharon Thompson said at the time of the offences his father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and his attention was focused on his care.

She said it had not been a deliberate act.