Creamfields: Man who left dogs to die in hot van given lifetime animal ban

Paul Cave was found guilty of three animal cruelty offences

A security guard who left two dogs to die in a hot van during last year's Creamfields music festival has been banned from keeping animals for life.

The Rottweiler security dogs, named Rebel and Zola, were discovered at the site in Daresbury, Cheshire, in August.

Paul Cave, 61 and of Eton Avenue, Oldham, also got a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £260.

He was convicted in February of three animal cruelty offences, including causing dogs unnecessary suffering.

Cave was also found guilty of failing to take steps to ensure the dogs' needs were met and failing to protect them from pain, suffering and injury.

The RSPCA said the dogs would have suffered to an "unimaginable" extent

RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said: "This case is a distressing example of how dogs really do die in hot cars.

"The Met Office report for the day was a maximum of 17C, which shows that it doesn't have to be very hot outside.

"Even warm, pleasant outside temperatures turn cars into ovens and therefore death traps for dogs.

"Cave completely failed Rebel and Zola and the dogs paid the ultimate price for those failures. The vet described how the dogs would have suffered to an unimaginable extent."

The RSPCA advice for dog owners and what to do if you see a dog in a hot car is detailed here.