A cruel woman has admitted trying to drown a dog by throwing her into a freezing river with a rock tied to her neck.Brave passerby Jane Harper saw Belgian Shepherd Bella in the River Trent in Farndon, Nottinghamshire, with the water up to her neck in water and a carrier bag containing the rock tethered to her leash, earlier this year.

She rushed into the water and rescued the dog before alerting Nottinghamshire Police who rushed Bella to a local vet where she received care. She is now in good health. Charlene Latham, 31, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on November 23.

Latham pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal namely Bella the shepherd dog, by an act, namely by attempting to drown the dog resulting in the animal being immersed in the cold water of the River Trent for a prolonged period, and that she knew, or ought to have known, that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so.

She was released on bail until her next court appearance on March 8 next year along with a 32-year-old man who denied the same charge.The barbaric act took place on January 6 this year and Bella was rescued at 8.45am.

Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a highly emotive incident that was understandably very shocking to the public.

“Thankfully Bella is reported to be doing well and is in very good hands.

“Animal cruelty is totally unacceptable and we will always support our colleagues in the RSPCA in whatever we can in their investigations.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said at the time of the incident: “We are working with police following reports of a dog in the River Trent in Farndon with a carrier bag attached to her lead with a rock inside.