Colchester man banned from keeping animals for three years
The RSPCA found more than 50 animals being kept in "filthy" conditions
A man from Colchester has been banned for keeping animals for three years.
David Robert Thompson pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and was sentenced on 1 April.
The 51-year-old kept 44 ferrets, four foxes, three jackdaws, two pigeons and two crows at his house on Harwich Road in filthy conditions in cages and pet carriers.
According to the RSPCA, in some cases the faeces were inches thick.
RSPCA Inspector Emma Beynon, who led the investigation, said:
"As I stepped inside the conservatory I could not really take in what I was seeing, the smell of faeces was overwhelming and there were so many flies. I have not seen so many flies in a house before."
Her colleague, Inspector Caroline Richardson, added:
"There was an overwhelming smell coming from the garden. I immediately recognised the smell as fox faeces, but it was stronger than I have ever smelt, despite having experienced foxes defecating in the back of my RSPCA van on numerous occasions.
"I found an old fox being kept in a tunnel-like enclosure, the base of which was thick with faeces and dirt. Two more foxes were in a dog crate attached to a plastic kennel. The whole floor of the enclosure had several inches of compacted faeces and dirt."
Thompson claimed in court he had 'rescued' the animals and was attempting to rehabilitate them.
He admitted one count of failing to provide a suitable environment which was hygienic and/or free from hazards for 50 animals in his care, and a count of failing to provide vet treatment for five of them.
All animals were seized and examined by a vet, with some ferrets requiring treatment and three birds being put to sleep due to fractures.
A crow, two pigeons, a dove and two foxes have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Thompson was disqualified from keeping all animals for three years and also sentenced to a 12 month community order with 250 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £625 costs.