NORTHFLEET: Neglected kittens found suffering in filth and faeces

A CALLOUS Northfleet couple have been jailed after repeatedly neglecting kittens, despite a previous court order forbidding them to keep cats.

Marina Wilkes, aged 25, and Paul Sargeant, aged 31, both of Burch Road, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to kittens in June and September 2002.

The pair also admitted breaching a ban from keeping cats, imposed in April 2002.

RSPCA inspector Beth Clements first visited in June last year, smelt a foul odour coming from their house and, receiving no reply to her knocks, peered through the window.

Prosecuting, Andrew Wiles said: "There were a number of underweight kittens in the house with sticky eyes, overflowing litter trays and cat faeces on the floor."

The kittens were immediately removed and taken for treatment. One was so ill it had to be put down.

In September 2002, Inspector Clements went back to the property following another complaint. She found more kittens, all suffering from eye infections and ringworm.

Wilkes and Sargeant received a 120-day jail sentence and were banned from keeping animals for life at Dartford Magistrates' Court on January 24.

Miss Wilke's brother, Perry Wilkes, 36, of no fixed abode, also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to cats and breaching a ban and was ordered to carry out 200 hours community punishment. He was also banned from keeping animals for life.

Another brother, Julian Wilkes, aged 20, also of Burch Road, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to cats and was ordered to carry out 100 hours community punishment, pay £50 costs and was banned from keeping animals for five years.

Speaking after the trial, Inspector Clements was pleased the court took the offences so seriously.

She said: "These kittens were suffering terribly and yet every time we took them away the defendants would go and get more kittens to impose the suffering upon."

January 30, 2003 17:30