A WOMAN who keeps a number of animals as pets and said she “loves them all to bits” has been warned she might be jailed after dead and emaciated animals were found in a snow-covered field.

A number of sheep and a Shetland pony were dead and two sheep which were still alive were extremely thin and had clearly suffered, a court was told.

Jane Edwards, 47, of Riverbank in Bagillt, who told investigators she was “disgusted” with herself, admitted she caused unnecessary suffering to two sheep by failing to provide adequate nutrition and parasitic control at a field off Picton Lane, Penyffordd, near Holywell, in February.

The case against her was adjourned for a pre-sentence report at Flintshire Magistrates Court and she was bailed after being warned all options, including custody, would remain open.

Magistrates made a deprivation order in respect of the two live sheep, now recovering and “in care” at a farm in Shropshire, so they could be rehomed by the RSPCA.

They also asked for a report from the RSPCA about the condition of a large number of other animals which Edwards keeps to help them decide whether she should on the next occasion be banned from keeping animals.

The court was told that at her smallholding she had as a hobby four dogs, five pigs, six horses, 12 sheep, six goats, a calf, a heifer, a turkey and a cat.

Glen Murphy, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said carcasses of sheep and a Shetland pony were found in the field and two live sheep were found sheltering in a shed.

Both were extremely thin and there was no sign of hay or supplementary feed in the field which was covered in snow at the time.

The following day RSPCA inspector Tim Jones accompanied by two police officers and two trading standards officials attended and found the decomposition was considerable.

A white sheep and a black horned ram were found by vet David Evans to be emaciated and the ram was lethargic. No food or water was provided.

The vet concluded they were malnourished through neglect which had led to suffering over a period of some weeks.

A post-mortem examination on a dead sheep at the University of Liverpool found it was in poor bodily condition, suffered from anaemia and had parasitic infection.

It was in a “severe state of malnutrition” and there was a mud-like material in the intestine which indicated it had been without adequate pasture.

Two live sheep named Timmy and Billy had been removed from the field.

Interviewed, the defendant claimed she had provided hay every other day, but had not visited for two weeks before the RSPCA removed them.

She told how she had been “put on her backside” in a ram attack and was scared of going to the field. No one would help her and she feared asking the RSPCA for help in case the animals were taken away.

When she last visited she threw hay over the gate, the animals were alive but she had not examined their bodily condition. She could not explain why they were emaciated.

Edwards told how she was “disgusted” with herself, loved all her animals “to bits”, was remorseful and would do anything “to have my babies back.”

She felt “ashamed and stupid” and had learnt her lesson.

Mr Murphy said that the RSPCA would be asking the court to make a banning order at the next hearing because of the prolonged neglect, and the high level of suffering which had resulted in death.

She kept a number of other animals and the prosecution could not say if there were any issues with those at this stage.

Solicitor Victoria Evans, defending, said it was accepted the case had a number of aggravating features but Edwards was a woman of good character who had co-operated fully with the RSPCA. “She has done everything she can to make amends,” she said.

What would affect her the most would be an order not to keep animals and she would consent to the RSPCA attending her smallholding to examine the other animals.

The field, which belonged to a relative, had been used since last October and it was her case that she had been attacked by a ram and was fearful of going back. “She has buried her head in the sand somewhat,” Miss Evans told the Mold court.

Many of the other animals she had belonged to their children and were family pets. A deprivation order would cause great distress.

Edwards produced a letter from an abattoir which indicated that there had been no concern or issues with animals she had presented there.

Miss Evans said the proceedings arose from an isolated incident. “She has done all she can to ensure good quality care for the animals that she has,” she said.

Magistrates adjourned the case to July 18 for a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

Edwards told the bench: “I am sorry. I really am.”