RSPCA officers said the stench hit them before they entered a Coombs Road home where dogs, puppies, snakes and other animals were living in waste

A COUPLE from Milford Haven have been jailed after nearly 50 animals were found living in filthy, faeces-filled conditions at a house on Coombs Road.

Lee Lock, 38, and Zoe Graham, 33, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where they admitted a string of animal welfare offences.

RSPCA officers who attended the property on December 29, 2024 said the stench of urine and faeces was overpowering before they had even stepped inside.

Once in the house, inspectors found 29 dogs and puppies – including some just days old – along with 17 snakes, a tortoise and a gecko.

The court heard every floor was covered in waste, with officers describing there being “no space large enough to step” that was not contaminated by excrement and urine.

Many of the animals were described as underweight and unwell. Several died soon after being removed, while others had to be put to sleep.

Officers also made two grim discoveries: the body of a French Bulldog in a freezer, said to be heavily infected with parasites, and another French Bulldog found dead in a shed with a rectal tear, which the court heard was consistent with a blunt object being inserted.

Lock gave no comment during interview, but later became abusive towards officers, the court was told, accusing them of raping his dog.

Lock also faced separate drug charges after police found psilocybin mushrooms weighing 209 grams – said to be worth up to £4,000 – along with cultivation equipment, 35 grams of cannabis and £883 in cash. The drugs were found at the property and in his camper van in June 2024.

He claimed his partner had grown the mushrooms and said he was taking them to a police station when he was stopped.

The court heard Lock has 12 previous convictions for 19 offences, including coercive behaviour, dangerous driving and possession of a bladed article. He was jailed for 18 months last June after crashing head-on into a van.

Defending, Emily Bennett said Lock had struggled with his mental health after family bereavements and had a long-standing cocaine addiction. She told the court he was being sentenced for failing to seek veterinary help for an injured dog rather than causing the injuries, adding that a pre-sentence report raised concerns about his sexual interests, though this did not form part of the prosecution case.

Graham’s barrister, Jon Tarrant, said the couple had started out trying to provide homes for homeless animals, but matters became “unmanageable” as numbers grew. He described Graham as “fragile” and said her remorse was “palpable and genuine”.

Sentencing, Judge Huw Rees said the pair bore responsibility for “a litany of unconscionable cruelty to animals” and said it was to their shame the animals had been kept in “filthy conditions”.

Lock was sentenced to 27 months for the animal offences and a further 18 months for the drugs matter, making a total of 45 months in prison. Graham was jailed for 18 months.

Both will serve up to half of their sentences in custody before being released on licence.

Lock was banned from keeping animals for 25 years. Graham was disqualified for 15 years.