It is hard to understand why Timothy McLees would even entertain the thought of appealing against a ten-year ban on keeping animals and try to get two dogs returned to him.

It seems abundantly clear from his previous conduct that he is a far-from-suitable owner.

This is a man who admitted placing coloured elastic bands on the legs of seven puppies to identify them and left them there.

Of course, as the puppies grew, the bands tightened, causing the animals to suffer.

The dogs and their mother were kept in a pen in an attic room described as being in a terrible state with an overwhelming smell of excrement.

On top of this, all had fleas and one needed treatment for a skin disorder.

He previously signed over six of the puppies to the RSPCA but had hoped to get the bitch and one puppy back.

Thankfully a court in April had other ideas, sentencing him to 150 hours’ unpaid work, banning him from keeping animals for ten years and making an order depriving him of the two animals.

Yesterday he planned to appeal against the ban and order, but apparently thought better of it after Recorder Carl Gumsley indicated his sentence could be altered to a prison term.

Judge Gumsley deserves praise for this common-sense approach which has saved more time and money being wasted on a pointless appeal.

It was also entirely appropriate that McLees was ordered to pay a further £250 in costs.