A PENSIONER who kept over 100 dogs and ferrets in filthy, cramped conditions was banned from keeping animals for ten years earlier today.

Walford Rogers, 75, of Bevans Lane, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, was also given a six month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, by Newport magistrates, and ordered to pay £3,000 towards the RSPCA's costs.

Rogers had denied all six counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and breaching an existing ban on keeping dogs, but was convicted after a trial at the end of November.

Chairman of the bench Dr Christopher Rowlands told him: "But for your age an immediate custodial sentence would have been imposed."

When RSPCA inspectors visited the defendant's home last August, they found 63 dogs and 42 ferrets living in appallingly filthy and overcrowded conditions, which stank of faeces, ammonia and rotting food.

The animals, including greyhounds, border collies and terriers were found in a compound of makeshift and cramped kennels and hutches near the retired builder's mobile home.

They had little or no bedding and the floors were covered in urine or faeces.

RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnson said the animals were being fed leftovers collected from local takeaways and restaurants including "rice, chips, oranges and glace cherries", some of it rotten. Water supplies were either dirty or non-existent.

The court heard various animals had suffered from flea infestations, pressure sores and malnutrition.

But despite this, prosecutor Martyn Prowel said the pre-sentence report showed Rogers was not aware he had done anything wrong.

He said: "Mr Rogers feels the animals were well-cared for and that he has no reason to show remorse about the conditions the animals were kept under."

Rogers had two previous convictions for causing unnecessary suffering to animals and was already banned from keeping animals after a case in 2004.

After the sentencing Inspector Johnson of the RSPCA said: "I'm extremely pleased he is banned from keeping all animals and the suspended sentence shows the court is taking this seriously.

"He's being given one last chance and if he does it again he's going to prison."

101 animals rehomed Of the 105 animals, 101 were rehomed, but four were too ill and were put down.

It cost the RSPCA over £100,000 to house and care for the animals until they could be rehomed and prosecution costs in the case were around £10,832.33.