A sanctuary boss could be banned from keeping animals after admitting cruelty at the haven he has run for more than 20 years.

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

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

The charges relate to 93 offences of cruelty and two 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 was told he kept 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, said 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, he denied 13 of the charges and the case went to trial.

But Spedding, 46, then pleaded guilty to a further five charges. 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 he presented a caring public face.

No mitigation for Spedding was given in court, but in a police interview after the raid, which was read to the court, he 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 he would also be considering a disqualification order and added: "It is a matter which you will have to realise is likely at this stage and prepare for that when you are sentenced."

Spedding is expected to be sentenced on March 16.

* A video report will be available at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk from noon today.