AN animal sanctuary boss could be disqualified after admitting cruelty at the haven he has run for more than 20 years.

Clifford Spedding also faces the prospect of a prison sentence after a judge warned he would consider "all sentencing options."

Spedding pleaded guilty to a total of nine charges of animal cruelty against a variety of animals discovered at the Hope Animal Sanctuary, in Loftus, east Cleveland.

The charges relate to 93 offences of animal cruelty and two offences of keeping wild birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Of the 93 offences, Spedding failed to provide veterinary treatment for 41 animals, while 52 animals suffered because of the conditions in which they were kept.

The court heard how he kept the sick animals that could not be re-homed in terrible conditions and did nothing to alleviate their suffering.

People who took sick animals to the sanctuary had no idea they were condemning them to a slow death, according to John Ellwood, prosecuting.

Mr Ellwood said: "The only thing the defendant was leaving the animals to do was die - of starvation or infection - in agony."

Spedding originally faced 17 charges of animal cruelty and the case was brought to Teesside Magistrates' Court for trial on Tuesday.

Although he pleaded guilty to four of the offences, Spedding denied 13 of the charges and the case went to trial.

But Spedding, 46, pleaded guilty to a further five charges and the other eight charges against him were dismissed.

The court heard how Spedding, who has spent a lifetime caring for sick and abandoned animals, deceived people by allowing creatures to suffer in squalor while presenting a caring public face.

While no mitigation for Spedding was given in court, in a police interview after the raid, which was read to the court, Mr Spedding said: "I have just been having a bad time and just never got round to doing a lot of things round there.

"Everything just got on top of me."

Yesterday Mr Ellwood said: "It is the prosecution's case that the pleas that have been entered are adequate to reflect the defendant's actions."

District Judge Roger Elsey told Spedding he would be considering all sentencing options after reading a full pre-sentence report and hearing mitigation.

He said: "These are serious matters and all options will be considered, including a suspended or custodial sentence."

Mr Elsey said he would also be considering a disqualification order.

He added: "It is a matter which you will have to realise is likely at this stage and prepare for that when you are sentenced."

Sentencing is expected to take place on March 16.