A sick couple have been jailed after they "systematically ill-treated" seven children who were discovered to be living in ''repugnant'' conditions in a three bedroom property housing 10 people and 35 dogs. Police were called out to the disgusting home in Eastbourne following a report of a domestic incident and were met with a vile stench which left them unable to breathe properly.
Christopher Bennett, 35, and Gemma Brogan, 41, had also been keeping 35 extremely 'malnourished' dogs inside the property who were discovered covered in faeces and jumping all over a sleeping child in a dirty nappy on a sofa. Officers were horrified by the living conditions they had found inside the home and immediately placed all seven children, all aged between four and seventeen, into emergency protection before they were rehoused.
All 35 dogs and one deceased dog were also rescued from the vulgar household by the RSCPA and have been subsequently rehomed, WalesOnline reports. The twisted pair appeared for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on November 4 after they pleaded guilty to seven counts of child neglect.
They were both jailed for six years after an investigation was carried out by Sussex Police safeguarding officers. Police were called out on June 14, 2021 at around 11:40pm after someone had reported a domestic incident at their then address in Eastbourne.
Detective Constable Fiona Ashcroft of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Upon entering the address, our officers were shocked about the state of the property and had major concerns for the welfare of all the children. The stench, as you entered the hallway, hit officers hard – they were not able to breathe normally due to the stench.
''The state of the whole house was shocking and repugnant - it was cluttered and was strewn with discarded clothing, litter, rotting food and animal faeces. It looked as if it had been filthy for a number of years.
“There was a deafening sound of dogs yapping and barking coming from the room in front of the hallway. When the door to the living room was opened, officers were shocked to see dozens of dogs climbing over each other to try and reach the open door.
"All the dogs looked malnourished and skinny. Their fur was greasy, matted and covered in each other’s faeces. In amongst the filth and melee of dogs, officers removed a sleeping child from the sofa, who was dressed in just a soiled nappy and had dogs jumping all over them.
“All seven children, then aged between four and 17, were immediately taken into emergency protection and following partnership working with the local authority children’s services they were subsequently rehoused. The four youngest children are now living with supportive families and are learning all the principle social, mobility and life skills that our society hinges on.
"This was a particularly dreadful example of child neglect. The address is a three-bedroom property which had 10 occupants and 35 dogs crammed in. It is impossible to paint an accurate picture of the full extent of degradation and filth these vulnerable children had to endure. It is unequivocally one of the most awful addresses I have ever been in.”
The disgraceful couple both pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after the RSPCA prosecuted them during separate cases in February and August this year. They were given additional charges for animal cruelty offences, Brogan was sentenced to an 18-week prison sentence suspended for two years.
She has also given a five year ban from owning all animals, 100 hours of community service work and 30 Rehabilitation Activity days. Bennett was sentenced to 18 weeks' imprisonment and was banned indefinitely from keeping all animals.
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