THIRTEEN people from Cumbria were among nearly 1,000 nationwide convicted of animal cruelty last year.

Figures revealed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) showed they investigated 159,831 complaints in 2014 compared to 153,770 in 2013.

A shocking 20,258 of these complaints involved alleged deliberate and often violent cruelty being inflicted upon animals. This was up from 19,683 in 2013.

In Cumbria there were 216 complaints, up from 211 in 2013. The number of people convicted fell from one to 13.

RSPCA chief veterinary officer James Yeates said: “It is extremely concerning that we are still receiving more than 20,000 complaints about animals being deliberately caused to suffer and that’s 20,000 too many.

“Most of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice. However, it is shocking that in 2014 people are still being deliberately cruel in what can be disturbingly inventive ways.”

Last year also saw five prosecutions relating to the Neknomination online craze in which several people took part in ‘dares’ involving swallowing live fish, frogs and even a lizard.

A 23-year-old man from Barrow was given an 80 day prison sentence in March 2014 after being caught on camera beating a puppy.

The footage showed a young Staffordshire bull terrier being repeatedly picked up and thrown across a garden, bounced off a concrete step and having his head trapped in a door.

The man pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy by the infliction of physical and mental abuse, blunt force trauma and rough handling.

The puppy - originally called ‘Titan’ but renamed ‘Dudley’ - was fostered and then adopted by RSPCA inspector Chris Towler.