A SPURNED boyfriend who poured fabric conditioner into a tropical fish tank in a "fit of rage" during an argument with his girlfriend has appeared in court.

Benjamin Samuel Avill, from Waltham Road, Bournemouth, killed 49 of the tank's 50 fish after pouring in a full three litre bottle of Comfort fabric conditioner.

He admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at a Poole Magistrates' Court hearing on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old, who was warned by magistrates that a custodial sentence was in their power to impose, has been ordered to reappear at the same court next month for sentencing.

Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Matthew Knight told the court how Avill and his girlfriend at that time, Jennifer Daniels, were arguing at the flat in Seabourne Road, Southbourne, after Miss Daniels told the defendant she wanted to break up with him.

Mr Knight said Avill then smashed a glass bottle containing coins in a "fit of rage" using the shards of glass to sever the electricity supply to the tropical fish tank.

He then proceeded to pour in the fabric conditioner "with the intention of killing the fish", said Mr Knight.

The court was also told that during questioning later, Avill told investigators: "Lots of fish die every day."

Mr Knight said Miss Daniels recalled: "He (Avill) snarled as he put the fabric conditioner in" and that she was "shocked" and "horrified" by his actions.

"The fish had not done anything to him," she added.

Magistrates bailed Avill to reappear at the court pending pre-sentence reports.

The charge Avill admitted, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, is contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

It stated: "On 8/5/2019 at a flat in Seabourne Road, Southbourne, caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely 49 various tropical fish, by an act, namely pouring fabric conditioner into the water of their fish tank, and that you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or likely to do so.

Mr Knight told Poole magistrates that a veterinary surgeon had concluded the fish would have experienced "acute and unnecessary" suffering because of Avill's actions.

The vet said the gill function of the fish would have been inhibited and that they would effectively have died of asphyxiation.

Avill will next attend Poole Magistrates' Court on September 6.