A report has revealed people committing crimes involving animal cruelty are being given lenient sentences.

A study by the Centre for Crime Prevention shows of the 266 people convicted of such offences in Kent between 2011-2016, only 13 (4.9%) were jailed.

Nationally the report warns in the vast majority of cases (73%) a person who has gone on to be convicted of animal cruelty already had one previous conviction or caution.

It comes as the RSPCA revealed of the 744 cases the charity's own inspectors brought nationally in 2016 only 57 (7.7%) of the defendants were given prison sentences.

Only 5.5% of those were near the maximum sentence which can be handed down by the court, which is six months as the cases are heard in magistrates' courts.

RSPCA interim chief executive, Michael Ward, believes some of the cases brought to court are "shocking".

He said: "The maximum sentence for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

"But the reality is that this rarely happens and while the RSPCA is seeing unbelievably shocking and distressing cases go before the courts, only a tiny proportion of animal abusers actually receive an immediate custodial sentence.

"RSPCA officers have had to investigate horrendous cases in which dogs have been found buried alive with a nail hammered into their skull" - Michael Ward

"It's ironic that some puppy trade cases we've taken the defendants get longer sentences for committing fraud than for the cruelty and suffering they have inflicted on the defenceless dogs.

"RSPCA officers have had to investigate horrendous cases in which dogs have been found buried alive with a nail hammered into their skull, puppies have been kept in damp, dark rooms laying in their own filth and sold to unsuspecting members of the public, horses have been dumped to die on the side of the road and hamsters have been force-fed drugs."

Polling by the charity has shown that seven out of 10 people would like to see sentencing for animal welfare offences toughened up and longer jail terms imposed on offenders.

Director of the Centre for Crime Prevention Peter Cuthbertson said: "Animal lovers will be horrified to learn that animal cruelty is one of the many offences treated extremely leniently by our courts.

"The government is currently exploring tougher sentences for animal cruelty.

"This is absolutely necessary. We need more serious, prolific criminals in prison.

"This would protect people and animals alike, because it's so often the same criminals who are a threat to both people and animals."