A WOMAN has been jailed and banned from keeping animals for life after killing her pet dog.

Hayley Cowan, aged 22, of Sale Road in Tyldesley, muzzled her dog with duct tape and strangled her with a collar and lead before burying her in the garden.

She was sentenced at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court yesterday for four months, banned from keeping animals for life and charged £500.

At a hearing on July 7, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her staffy 'Beau', by kicking her in the face on 14 October last year and then, on 15 October, causing unnecessary suffering by asphyxiating Beau, resulting in her death.

The incident happened at an address on Lynton Road. RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “Witnesses took Beau off of Cowan after seeing her kick her in the face twice, but returned her later that night after being promised the dog wouldn’t be harmed.

“The next morning, Cowan called them and said Beau had run off. They searched for Beau but found no trace.

“A couple of weeks later, Cowan admitted that she had killed Beau and buried her in the garden at the incident location.

"The witnesses attended that night and found the freshly dug area. "They confronted her the next day but were told it was just toys that had been buried. The next night they went back and discovered the body, and called us.”

The RSPCA was called and attended on November 5 and the body was dug up.

A post-mortem found Beau died of strangulation by means of the duct tape and tightened collar. Bruising to her limbs, and internal bruising to her neck and lungs suggested she had been held down.

RSPCA inspector McDonald said: "It’s difficult to imagine what this poor dog went through at the hands of someone she trusted.

“It was a heartbreaking case to investigate and mainly made possible by witnesses coming forward. It was very traumatic and upsetting for them, so I am very grateful.

“I hope the sentence passed will give Cowan the opportunity to reflect upon her actions against Beau."