A COUPLE banned from keeping animals for 15 years after nine cats were found living in cramped and dirty cages in their house breached the court order just months later.

Alan Robert Turner, 58, and Sue Elizabeth Turner, 61, both of Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick, found themselves back in court on July 15, just over a year after their last appearance.

On May 5 last year, the couple were sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court after admitting several animal welfare offences.

The couple kept nine cats in small cages, covered in faeces and with little or no food or water.

They also had a number of dogs, including terrier Dudley who was suffering from dental issues, skin disease and dry eye.

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Two other dogs, Spangle and Amber, were not being kept in a suitable environment, and two cats, called Khandi and Toby, were underweight.

There were 14 animals living in the property in total including Khandi, a black and white female cat and Toby, a black and white male cat.

Inside the cages were nine cats, some of which had access to water and dry food, while others had none.

There were also two other dogs, Spangle, a Collie and Husky cross, Amber, a female tan chihuahua, and Dudley, the elderly terrier type dog.

The vet report stated that Dudley was underweight, suffering from halitosis, severe gingivitis, overgrown claws, hyper-keratinised skin.

He also had yellow discharge from his eyes, a poor coat quality and alopecia on his legs and dorsum, as well as fleas.

The vet report added his dental disease would have been causing him pain as well as chronic skin disease and an eye infection.

Gazette: Cats were found in cramped cagesCats were found in cramped cages

The pair were banned from keeping all animals for 15 years and cannot contest for at least five years.

But in February this year, the couple were found to be keeping a black cat named Sooty and two domestic rats.

Each defendant admitted two counts of breaching a disqualification under the Animal Welfare Act.

At Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 15, Mr Turner was sentenced to a community order comprising a mental health treatment requirement and rehabilitation activity days.

Mrs Turner was hit with as similar order, with a single condition to complete rehabilitation activity days.

Each defendant was fined £120 and ordered to pay court costs.