A dog owner who subjected his pets to "horrendous" conditions over three months has been jailed.

Ivor Duncan, 32, kept three Staffordshire bull terriers in a flat he only visited every couple of days, resulting in all three dogs being put down due to "mental anguish".

A court heard faeces and urine covered the floors while the starving dogs were reduced to chewing on metal food cans at the property on Great Northern Road, Aberdeen.

Police had to force entry to the flat after Scottish SPCA inspectors were alerted by concerned neighbours, finding all three dogs emaciated and flat-footed due to lack of exercise.

The youngest was described as "skin and bone" by animal welfare inspectors, while all three exhibited signs of extreme stress and had developed behavioural difficulties.

The dogs returned to full physical health after being taken into care but had to be put down due to the severity of their mental distress.

Fiscal depute Alan Townsend described the scene as the "extremely emaciated" dogs were finally rescued.

He said: "On opening the door, the dogs were so desperate to get out that they pulled the leads out of the inspector's hands. The youngest dog had to be carried out.

"What was thought to be the living room was so cluttered that the doorway was the only accessible part."

Speaking of the youngest puppy, Mr Townsend said: "Every bone is his body could be seen sticking out of his skin."

Although the dogs showed signs of malnutrition and neglect, none of them had underlying medical issues or exhibited signs of physical abuse.

Defence solicitor Mike Munro said: "The tragedy of this case is that the dogs had to be put down due to their mental state.

"They had been left in such an intolerable state that their minds had become locked into that and they were never going to be able to go into a loving household."

When asked about the conditions in his flat by Scottish SPCA inspectors, Mr Duncan replied: "They were not good. I haven't cleaned it in a while."

Sheriff Christine McCrossan said the scene for Scottish SPCA officers on entering Duncan's flat was "almost beyond description".

Mr Duncan admitted two offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act and was handed a 23-week jail sentence.

He was also banned from keeping animals for at least five years and will then have to apply to the courts if he intends to keep any animals again.