An Australian mother and animal shelter worker admitted attempting to sell a human toe on the black market after it had been bitten off by a dog.

Last year, police charged 47-year-old Joanna Kinman with offensive conduct involving human remains after they received a tip a woman was trying to sell a human toe.

Police alleged Kinman was volunteering at an animal shelter when a dog vomited up a toe along with other remains.

They claim she then put the toe and other remains into a jar with the intention of selling them on the black market.

According to the Herald Sun, the pet dog had chewed off his owner’s toe after he died of natural causes and was surrendered to the animal shelter following his death.

After receiving the tip-off in February, police released the woman without charge, but she remained under investigation.

Six months later, the 47-year-old was charged and faced a maximum of two years’ jail for the offence.

Kinman’s lawyer, Rainer Martini, told the court his client would plead guilty to a single charge of offensive conduct involving human remains when her case returns to court in March.

Her lawyer told the court a forensic psychologist was being sought to understand the reasoning for the 47-year-old’s action.

“The court may be interested in looking at the avenue with regard to why my client thought this was appropriate behaviour,” Martini told the court.

The full details of Kinman’s alleged crimes will be laid bare when the case returns to court in March.

Martini has sought for the 47-year-old woman to be sentenced to a diversion programme, whereby she would go through rehabilitation and avoid jail time and a criminal history.

However, the court heard prosecutors were “not keen” on the proposal of diversion.

Kinman is no longer employed at the animal shelter.

- NZ Herald