CONVICTED (2019) | Jenny Johnson, born 13 February 1975, of Elmsleigh Drive, Midway, Swadlincote DE11 – kept her pet dog and cat in squalor in her filthy home

Jenny Johnson’s pets – Staffy Casper and moggy Riley – were forced to live in a hellish environment with conditions so appalling they made local authority environmental health officers retch when they visited the property.

Flooring throughout the property was covered in piles of animal excrement and saturated with urine. Kitchen worktops and items of furniture including the sofa were caked in filth.

Casper was found to have inflamed paws which a vet confirmed was related to the unhygienic conditions in which he was living.

Jobless Johnson pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Staffy Casper and Riley the cat by allowing them to foul in her living room.

She then failed to clean up, resulting in the animals living in their own faeces and urine.

She also admitted a second charge of causing unnecessary suffering to the same animals by failing to secure their needs for a suitable environment, their need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and the need to be protected from pain, suffering injury and disease.

Ruksana Munir, prosecuting for South Derbyshire District Council, told the court: “Council officers entered the property on July 31, 2018, after they were sent a photograph of the condition of the property by the landlord who raised concerns.

“The landlord had let this property to the defendant three years ago and she had a cat and a dog and was concerned about their welfare.

“The defendant did not open the door [as she was out] and the landlord believed something criminal was taking place so exercised her right to unlock the back door, along with council officers.

“The dog was behind the door and walked out when it was opened.

“There was an overpowering foul smell upon entering.

“Officers were actually nauseated by the smell.

“They saw piles of faeces and pools of urine, both fresh and historic, around the house and on the kitchen worktops.

“The animals were living around this stomach-churning sight.”

Mrs Munir added: “There was a lengthy period of time where there was no effort made by the defendant to remove the waste.

“The sofa was heavily soiled and it had been ripped open. It was behaviour consistent with a dog being cooped up in a property for a long period of time.

“The dog is quite strong and with [Johnson’s] mobility issues she could not control the dog on a lead, which indicated she wasn’t going out to walk the dog.”

The court was told that Casper was seized at the time of the raid and Riley, who was not at home, was seized later.

The pets will now be rehomed following the conclusion of the case, having clocked up £3,000 in kennel fees – a cost picked up by the taxpayer.

Following the visit, Johnson was served with a letter in August 2018 but the court heard there were no attempts made by her to clear the waste and there was still urine and faeces in the living room.

The council’s pollution control officers later removed the waste at a cost of £450 which the court was told she is repaying.

It was also revealed that Johnson had previous involvement with council officers for an “identical” matter in 2014.

At that time, the premises was cleaned by the council and she was allowed to keep her dog.

Johnson underwent mental health tests which determined she had capacity to be responsible for her actions but an appropriate adult was asked to sit in for her police interview, the court was told.

The court was told that the legal fees to bring the case to prosecution totalled £5,938, of which £3,000 was kennel fees for both animals.

Chairman of the Bench Mr Hickson jailed Johnson for 12 weeks, telling her: “This one of the worst cases we have ever seen. Words fail us.

“It was a scene of horror, so stomach-churning that the officers were retching.

“This was a prolonged period and what makes it worse is that it is not the first time.

“There was a cost to the taxpayer of cleaning up this disgusting mess.

“[Following the mental health tests] you are therefore completely responsible for the situation you find yourself in.”

Sentencing: jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay costs and charges totalling £3,115. She was banned from keeping animals for life.

Derbyshire Live