AN APPEAL by the founder of Crunchy’s Animal Rescue against her prison sentence for neglect has been dismissed.

Yesterday a judge at Oxford Crown Court told Angela Russell that her crimes “amply justified” the maximum six-month jail term.

The 41-year-old was jailed in July after being found guilty of animal cruelty and welfare offences by a district judge at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecution came after RSPCA inspectors raided the Longworth centre off the A420 in January last year and seized 95 animals. At least 50 were suffering from neglect.

On Thursday a barrister for Russell argued that because of her depression, obesity, ulcers and diabetes she was too “vulnerable” to stay in jail.

But Judge Gordon Risius said there was no reason to alter the sentence passed by District Judge Tim Pattinson.

He said: “It would be difficult to imagine a more serious case of avoidable suffering by animals entrusted to the care of the rescue centre.

“A custodial sentence of any length is particularly difficult for any person who has physical and mental problems, but we are not persuaded that those difficulties justify our intervening with the sentence.”

Russell did not appeal against her ban on owning or caring for animals.