A PET owner who exposed his Bengal cats to 31 degree heat and left ducks outside without fresh food or water for more than a week, has been banned from keeping animals for ten years.

Chelmsford magistrates were shown graphic images of the animals’ living conditions during an eight-day period last June, before RSPCA inspectors were able to contact owner Monshur Alom.

Alom, 36, admitted to three breaches of the Animal Welfare Act at the court yesterday.

The animals were being kept at an address in Golf Green Road, Jaywick, so the new dad could renovate his home to accommodate the animals and his growing family, the court heard.

Lauren Bond, prosecuting, called him “clearly unfit” to look after animals.

The ducks, and exotic cats which he had no licence to keep, are now with the RSPCA.

Ms Bond said: “The inspector was overwhelmed by the heat in the conservatory and the ammonia smell burnt his nose.

“There was blood over the floor as though the cats had dragged raw meat but there was no sign of a carcass. There was a trough of water which was bright green, and large litter trays that appeared very full.

“Outside the ducks were confined to a one metre by three metre alleyway. There was liquid faeces on the floor and it smelt disgusting.”

Magistrates ordered Alom, of Sidney Street, London, to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £685 costs.

It was his first time before the court in relation to animal welfare.

Mrs Scoot, mitigating, explained life had got on top of him and he had also been unwell.

However, he did accept his actions were a “form of neglect”.

She said: “He’s had the cats for two years and there’s never been any concern or need for the RSPCA to address him or the family.

“Unfortunately, the cats weren’t litter trained so he had them in the property for a short time and renovations were being made to their current property to give them appropriate living conditions.

“He’d had the ducks for significantly less time. A friend was going to kill them so he took the ducks and was going to find another home for them.

“He didn’t plan to keep them long term.”