A tiny chihuahua called Chunky who had his neck broken and was set on fire by a group of drugged- up teenagers miraculously managed to survive the ordeal.

The four youths stole the puppy from his home in Margate, Kent and when they had finished torturing him, left him at a rubbish dump after they mistakenly thought he was dead.

RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe said: 'This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with - by an absolute mile.

In pain: Chunky the dog was tortured by drugged-up teenagers who set him on fire, broke his neck and then dumped him in a rubbish tip

Recovery: Tiny chihuahua-cross, Chunky, was left for dead when he was targeted in an attack which was described as the 'worst-ever' by an RSPCA inspector

Heartless: The RSPCA found Chunky abandoned near the rubbish tip before reports on Facebook revealed what had actually happened to him

The four youths responsible have all been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Of the gang, two aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the offence, admitted the attack on Chunky.

They pleaded guilty at a hearing last month to cruelly ill-treating the animal in a way which they knew would cause him to suffer unnecessarily.

They were all given 12-month referral orders and ordered to pay costs totalling £2,000.

A fourth youth, aged 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to the same offences under the Animal Welfare Act, at a trial at Folkestone Youth Court.

He was also disqualified from keeping animals for five years and given a referral order for twelve months and his father was made to pay costs of £5,800.

None of the defendants can be named because of their ages.

Getting better: Chunky is on the road to recovery after his ordeal. Three teenagers, two aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the offence, admitted to punching and kicking Chunky, before breaking his leg and neck

Better days: It was a miracle that Chunky survived but he is on the way to a full recovery

RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe said: 'These youths admitted feeding him drugs, and kicking and punching him, and wringing and breaking his neck before dumping him. They also said they set fire to his face and eyes after lighting a deodorant aerosol can.

'The whole thing sends shivers down my spine. The defendants may have been young and confessed to being under the influence of drugs but the cruelty they inflicted on this poor dog was extreme, barbaric and inexcusable.'

The inspector said Chunky will bear the mental scars of the attack for the rest of his life.

She added: 'Chunky was found with a broken leg and neck, and with burns all over his face and eyes. He must have suffered horrendously for hours as the senseless torture took place for the amusement of these boys.

Better now: An RSPCA inspector said that thankfully Chunky has been restored to health and returned to his loving owners, although he may remain timid as a result of his ordeal

'What was perhaps even worse was the fact Chunky suffered for days after he was dumped - literally left for dead on his own to wander next to a fast road.

'It is a miracle he survived. I will never forget how terrified and depressed he was when I first saw him.

Veterinary experts said the injuries were so severe that despite the medication he was on he suffered for at least six days.