A dog owner has been sentenced after his pet was found foaming at the mouth and in a “life threatening state” inside a car in sweltering heat.

Michael Haye appeared at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on April 17 where he pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty offence in Hertfordshire.

A member of the public had called Hertfordshire Constabulary on July 18 last year, when temperatures were around 38 degrees, from the Premier Inn in Swanland Road, South Mimms, after noticing the Rottwelier was trapped.

They tried the car's door handle, which was unlocked, and were able to provide it with water.

When police arrived, having been called at 12.52pm, they found the dog in distress and foaming at the mouth. Officers doused him with water before taking him to the Royal Veterinary College.

The dog was found to have a 42 degree temperature and was in a "life-threatening state".

Detective Sergeant Mikey Logue said: “The poor dog was so weakened that he had to be picked up out of the car and lifted into a police vehicle as he couldn’t walk.

“When officers left the vets, they were informed that he had taken a turn for the worst. Thankfully, he pulled through, but it was very close to being a different outcome.”

He added that police are pleased with the sentencing and hope it serves as a reminder to other pet owners.

Haye, of Fraser Road, Walthamstow, was disqualified from having a dog for 10 years and ordered to pay £6504.77 compensation, for kennel and vet costs. He was also given a community order requiring him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.

The 39-year-old had been in the hotel and it was believed that he had fallen asleep.

He was arrested straight away and taken to custody. During questioning, Haye said that he had left the dog with some water, but this was just a bottle of water and a dog bowl which was found "bone dry and too hot to touch", according to police.

The dog has made a full recovery and is in the process of being rehomed.