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.

BLAS RESTAURANT, the three AA rosette dining destination known for its modern Welsh cooking and deep connection to Pembrokeshire’s land and coast, is heading to the capital for a special three-day pop-up: Blas in the City, taking place from Thursday 26 February to Saturday 28 February 2026 at The Sorting Room in Cardiff’s landmark Parkgate Hotel.

For a limited time only, Cardiff diners are invited to experience the flavours, creativity and storytelling that define Blas — without leaving the city. Working alongside The Parkgate Hotel’s kitchen team, Blas Head Chefs Dan Slipakiv and Gareth Evans will present a bespoke menu showcasing the best of seasonal Welsh produce, with refined, flavour-led dishes inspired by Wales’s rich natural larder.

“Blas in the City is an exciting opportunity for us to share what we do with a new audience,” said Blas Head Chef Gareth Evans. “We’re proud of our Pembrokeshire roots, and this collaboration allows us to bring the spirit, flavours and creativity of Blas to Cardiff.”

Hosted in The Sorting Room — a Michelin Guide-listed, two AA rosette restaurant — the pop-up combines Blas’s bold contemporary style with the elegance of one of Cardiff’s most celebrated dining rooms.

Event details

Dates: 26–28 February 2026

Lunch: 12:30pm – 3:45pm

Dinner: 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Location: The Sorting Room, The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

Dress code: Smart casual

Guests can book for lunch or dinner across all three days, with exclusive menus available throughout the event.

Blas in the City reflects the restaurant’s ongoing commitment to championing Welsh food, seasonal cooking and meaningful collaborations — offering guests the chance to enjoy something genuinely memorable.

Bookings are now open and availability is limited.
https://www.theparkgatehotel.wales/home/restaurant-bar/blas-in-the-city/

About Blas Restaurant

Blas is a three AA rosette contemporary Welsh restaurant rooted in Pembrokeshire, celebrating outstanding local produce, bold flavours and a strong sense of place. The name “Blas”, meaning “taste” in Welsh, reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of thoughtful, ingredient-led cooking inspired by land and sea.

FINAL Budget plans worth £27.5bn for 2026-27 have been published by the Welsh Government, with ministers saying the package will deliver £1.2bn more for people, public services and businesses than in the current financial year.

The Welsh Government said the Final Budget includes £400m of new allocations since the Draft Budget was set out in October, including £300m of revenue funding for local government and the NHS, secured through the budget agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

A further £100m in revenue and capital funding is earmarked for priorities including bus services, apprenticeships, further education, flood prevention and maintenance of school buildings.

Ministers said every Welsh Government department will receive at least the same level of funding in real terms in 2026-27 as this year, with uplifts for inflation and pay intended to help protect frontline services and safeguard jobs.

Key allocations highlighted in the announcement include an extra £112.8m for local government, with all councils set to receive increases of four per cent or above, and a further £180m for health and social care, bringing the total revenue budget for the sector to more than £12.6bn.

A £116m package of support for businesses over two years has also been announced to help firms manage the impact of the 2026 non-domestic rates revaluation.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the Final Budget would provide extra resources for the services Wales relies on, while delivering certainty for public services.

He said: “This Final Budget provides extra resources to support the services Wales relies on. Every department has been protected with at least the same funding in real terms as this year, including extra funding for inflation and pay – recognising the vital work of our public service workforce.

“By working across the Senedd, we are providing certainty and stability for public services now, while ensuring the next Welsh Government has the resources it needs to deliver its priorities from day one.”

The Final Budget will be debated and put to a vote in the Senedd on Tuesday, January 27. The timetable published by the Welsh Government shows the Draft Budget was released on Tuesday, October 14, with the detailed Draft Budget published on Monday, November 3, before the budget agreement with Plaid Cymru was reached on Tuesday, December 9.