A Norfolk man who bought a 12-week-old puppy and failed to prevent its ear flaps from being cropped illegally has been told he could be jailed for up to five years.

James Musk appeared before magistrates to plead guilty to charges relating to a puppy called Ocean.

It is said Musk, 37 and of Windmill Green, Ditchingham, near Bungay, arranged to buy an American bully female puppy and then failed to prevent someone else from cropping her ear flaps.

The ear cropping led to infected wounds to Ocean's ears and Musk then failed to provide appropriate veterinary care.

Musk pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and permitting someone to carry out a prohibited procedure on an animal.

Also in the dock at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court was Megan Caston, 27, of Barley Close, Harleston.

She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to provide appropriate veterinary care.

All the offences took place in Ditchingham between February 2-9, 2002.

Sara Pratt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the offences crossed the "custody threshold" and Musk and Caston could face up to five years in jail.

She added that the longer sentences had been in effect since 2022 and previously the offences would have led to a maximum of six months in prison.

Magistrates ordered an "all options" pre-sentence report.

Musk and Caston will appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court on May 17 for sentencing.

They had originally pleaded not guilty to the offences, but changed their pleas a few days before the Great Yarmouth hearing.

No mitigation was given by their legal representatives.

Ocean is now in foster care and is said to have recovered well.

The court heard Musk has agreed to officially sign her over to the RSPCA post-sentencing.