A WOMAN was banned from keeping animals for two years after she went on holiday and left her pet birds to starve to death.

Takae Aoki, 46, from Longmead, Abingdon, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three cockatiels between December 20, 2008, and January 2, 2009.

Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard Aoki had gone on holiday to Japan to visit her parents in December and left what she felt was an adequate amount of food and water for the birds.

Sarbjit Bisla, prosecuting, said the RSPCA was called to Aoki’s house on January 2 after being tipped off by a member of public. Officers saw the dead birds in a cage through a window.

Mr Bisla said the normal weight for a cockatiel was 75 to 95g, but the birds weighed 64, 60 and 50g each.

Starvation was the most likely cause of death, according to a post mortem.

Howard Wilson, defending, said Aoki had become very depressed after a difficult divorce and had been urged by her parents to make the trip to Japan.

He said the mother-of-three asked a neighbour to look after the birds, but was told they would also be away.

Aoki was fined £140 with a victim’s surcharge of £15 and £948.30 costs.