Couple lived in stomach-churning conditions with 16 cats and dogs surrounded by faeces and bottles of URINE (5 Pics)

A couple who were living in abject squalor with 14 cats and two dogs have been banned from keeping any animal for 10 years.

When RSPCA inspectors went to Robert and Ceri Rickman’s house, they found piles of rubbish filling the rooms, human and animal faeces and urine on the floors throughout the property, filth and grime on virtually every surface, and a “repellent smell”.

They also found more than a dozen flee-ridden and underweight cats roaming the house.

Swansea Magistrates' Court heard the shocking domestic scenes were discovered in June last year when RSPCA officers visited the Rickmans’ house in Cimla, Neath, reports WalesOnline .

Jon Tarrant, prosecuting, said as the officers moved from room to room they found each one in a filthy state, with rubbish and possessions piled high, “numerous” bottles full of urine strewn around, excrement on the floors and other surfaces, and swarms of flies.

They also found 14 cats “all riddled with fleas”, and many malnourished and with degrees of hair loss.

A vet described the animals as “isolated and withdrawn”, and suffering from obvious signs of stress.

There were also two dogs in the property - these were in a somewhat better condition.

Mr Tarrant said when the RSPCA inspector left the house to take a breather from the “foul odour” inside, he found his trousers were “crawling with fleas”.

Robert Rickman, 45, and Ceri Ann, aged 32, had each previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to domestic cats and to failing to take reasonable steps to make sure the needs of dogs were met when they appeared together for sentencing.

The court heard Robert, who had previously gone by the name Robert Ford, has a previous conviction from 1998 for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the old Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Steve Harrett, for the couple, said his clients both had limitations which had led to the conditions found in the house.

He said: “Both defendants were wholly incapable of looking after themselves, let alone animals. They were living in conditions that were not fit for human habitation, never mind animal habitation.”

The solicitor said he accepted the animals in the property had suffered as a result of the conditions and that it was a distressing case, but he said there had been no malice on the part of his clients - rather there was “a large degree of incompetence”.

He added it was sad that it had taken the intervention of the RSPCA for the state in his clients’ life to come to light rather than of other agencies.

District judge Neale Thomas said he was satisfied the animals in the house had suffered serious neglect over a significant period.

But he said it was clear the couple had mental health issues, and it was not a case where the neglect had been as a result of malice.

Each defendant was given a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation requirement, and was banned from keeping any animal for 10 years.

Each must also pay £300 towards the costs of prosecution.

The couple had previously signed-over ownership of the animals in the house to the RSPCA.