Couple prosecuted after animals found living in squalor

A man who ignored his ban from keeping animals has been jailed after being found living in squalid conditions with more than 50 animals.

Liam Reynolds (also known as Lee Dart) (date of birth: 21.08.1990) of Flamborough Way, Plymouth was jailed for 26 weeks after cats, dogs, fish and birds were found in his cluttered and dirty home.

He also saw his animal ban extended to 30 years with no chance of appeal for 20 years. 

His partner, Emily Samantha Lillian Dart (date of birth: 02/10/1982) also of Flamborough Way, Plymouth, was banned from keeping animals after being jointly charged with Reynolds for failing to meet the needs of two dogs and five cats.

An investigation began after photos showed Reynolds handling animals at his home, despite being banned from owning them.

RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, described arriving at the couple’s address: "The interior of the property can only be described as being very chaotic with a large number of items scattered in no organised fashion along with a large amount of general rubbish in every room, not only on the floor but on just about every surface. 

"All the other rooms were cluttered with rubbish and discarded assortment of items. The bath was filled with items, mostly old fish tanks that appeared to have been there for some time as a layer of dust had formed on the base of the bath.

"The rear garden was unkempt, strewn with rubbish and discarded items which included a number of cages for animal use. There was also purpose-built wooden accommodation which housed five cats. The interior, especially the floor, was dirty and there was a large amount of faeces and litter trays that hadn't been cleaned out for some time. The enclosure also housed a large number of small caged birds. Further towards the back of the garden was a fish pond.

"The rear garden along with being cluttered and strewn with rubbish and discarded items had a large amount of dog faeces that at times was unavoidable in stepping in. 

"Upstairs were more rubbish-filled rooms, including a bedroom with a soiled cat carrier on top of an empty wooden cage and a small fish tank with tropical fish, and another which contained dirty bird cages with old feed and faeces which were starting to build up."

Reynolds was banned from keeping animals in February 2019 for animal cruelty, after he admitted failing to meet the needs of six dogs. He previously appeared before magistrates in Cornwall in July 2021 for twice breaching the court-imposed ban.

In addition to the prison sentence and extended ban, Reynolds was ordered to pay £400 in costs.

Reynolds appealed to the court to impose a financial penalty rather than custodial but was told: "You have persistently and continuously breached your disqualification and you are cruel and not safe to be with animals -  you make them suffer. The only option is prison."

As well as the seven-year ban from owning animals, which she can not appeal for five years, Emily Dart was fined £300 and ordered to pay £300 costs.

Two dogs, Cinders and Roxy, and five cats, Aslan, Sissy, Gracie, Mavis and Winifred, were also signed over into the care of the RSPCA at the court during sentencing and can now be rehomed by the charity.