Life ban in animal suffering case

Glyndwr and Margaret Jones, from Gorseinon, Swansea were given 56-day suspended jail sentences and fined £2,000 each by a district judge.

Their son Michael, 19, was banned from keeping animals for two years and ordered to do 150 hours community work.

The RSPCA prosecution said 100 animals were found in "appalling conditions".

The Joneses were found guilty of three charges of causing unncessary suffering to 14 dogs and 22 cats.

The parents had also been found guilty of breaching an order preventing them owning more than five pets each.

The trial last month had heard council officials found litter trays were overflowing with faeces and a "sickening" smell.

Sentencing Michael Jones, District Judge Richard Williams QC told the 19-year-old that he believed that he loved animals but that he lacked the sufficient capability and skill to look after them in such numbers.

"You were indulged and encouraged by your parents," he said.

"You've shown no remorse or little understanding of the offences that you've committed."

Sentencing his parents, Judge Williams said: "This was your property, you were in my judgement fully a part of what was going on in it." Solicitors for the parents said that they had no intention of keeping animals ever again.

'Very serious'

Mike Reed, for Michael Jones, said: "He was, in a sense, running an informal animal sanctuary. It was known in the area as a place where you could take animals."

Mr Reed said that Mr Jones would like some of the confiscated animals returned.

Swansea council had been alerted after receiving anonymous complaints and a warrant was executed at the house in Llanerch Crescent in October 2005.

Council officers told the court the house had an "overpowering smell of ammonia" being used to disguise the smell of urine.

The house had litter trays behind each chair which were "full to over-flowing".

The family had told council officials some of the animals were rescued, some belonged to Carmarthenshire College and others were pets of two younger daughters.

After the case, RSPCA officer Nigel Duguid said that he broadly welcomed the sentences but had concerns over the length of time Michael Jones had been disqualified.

"It's obvious that the judge took a very serious view of the offences committed. This was a very, very serious case."

He said this was a "carbon copy" of what the couple did on the first occasion when they were disqualified.

"There is no excuse this time," he added.

Mr Duguid asked for residents in the area to continue to be vigilant.

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