A man who admitted killing his husky dog by locking her in a hot conservatory in Mitcham for six hours has failed to turn up to his sentencing.

Ridrigo Enrique Ribiero Dos Santos, 21, shut the white husky dog called Nina in a glass conservatory on August 23, 2016, on a day when temperatures rose to around 30 degrees Celsius.

According to the RSPCA, Nina had been left in the conservatory at 1pm and police were called by concerned neighbours to the house in Dalton Avenue at 7pm.

Although officers smashed windows to try and rescue the dog, Nina had sadly already died from heat stroke. There was evidence she had tried to escape from the conservatory before she died.

Dos Santos, now of Lillieshall Road, Clapham, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 22.

Feb 23: Animal cruelty: Ridrigo Enrique Ribiero Dos Santos admits causing unnecessary suffering after death of husky dog shut in Mitcham conservatory on hot day

He was due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, March 22, but failed to appear.

A warrant has now been issued for his arrest.

RSPCA inspector Lauren Evans said: “This tragic case is a stark reminder to pet owners that environments such as conservatories can be just as fatal for dogs as hot cars on a sunny day.

“Poor Nina was left in this annex from 1pm on a hot day, and was found dead six hours later.

“The sun would have been falling directly onto it until at least 4pm. It would have been like a glass oven.

“There was no way for her to escape, and there were no windows open – it would have been too much for any dog, let alone a husky.

“Cushions were found scattered across the floor and bowls upturned. She had clearly been frantically trying to escape. But no one was around to see her.”

She added: “No one leaves their dog to die on purpose and the defendant said he did not realise how lethal it was.

“We urge all dog owners to remember that conservatories can become unbearably hot very quickly, and ‘not long’ is still too long whether the animal is left in a vehicle, confined room or any hot environment.

“Let’s hope by raising awareness of this heart-breaking case we can encourage other owners to stop and think, and so save lives.”