DEVIZES woman Kathryn Hamilton-Johnson, banned from having any domestic pets after a court case brought by the RSPCA, has abandoned her appeal against the conviction.

She dropped the appeal moments before it was due to be heard at Salisbury Crown Court on Tuesday before Judge Keith Cutler.

The case, which was expected to last several days, was against her conviction last October regarding seven offences involving causing unnecessary suffering to seven separate rough collie dogs.

Hamilton-Johnson, 57, of Poulshot Road, Poulshot, had been conditionally discharged for two years with an indefinite deprivation order in respect of owning dogs. She was also disqualified from owning any domestic animal for ten years.

Her decision not to go ahead with the appeal was announced by her barrister Susan Cavender. "She has decided to abandon her appeal today," Miss Cavender told the court.

Accepting the abandonment Judge Cutler took no action regarding costs put at more than £19,000.

After hearing Hamilton-Johnson was on income support he said: "Any financial orders are unrealistic and no such orders are made."