But she has been spared jail after being found guilty of causing unnecessary cruelty to an animal at a Mansfield Court on Wednesday.

Lisa Young (27), of Glen Street, failed to appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on 13th March when she was found guilty in her absence of causing unnecessary suffering to her greyhound dog between 7th and 26th April last year.

The court was told that a passer-by had seen Young aggressively pulling the dog's lead when the animal – known as Lucy – had a wound on her neck.

On several other occasions, witnesses say they heard the dog yelping while Young shouted and hit her with an object.

A concerned neighbour told Young that she should take the animal to the vet and the RSPCA would be able to help with the bill.

The vet said that the dog had a large wound between her shoulder blades, possibly caused by burning or scalding, and that if she had been hit, it would have caused her unnecessary suffering.

The RSPCA took it into care and they estimate that the cost of boarding houses is now £3,000 while vet's bills are £1,600.

Magistrates gave Young a 12-month Community Order which included a 12-month supervision order and she was ordered to officially hand the dog over to the RSPCA.

In addition, she was told that she could not keep another dog for 10 years and had to pay £50 costs to the RSPCA.

In handing out the sentence, the magistrates told her: "You caused a great deal of suffering over a long period of time and you used a weapon to cause unnecessary pain and suffering."