A WOMAN banned from keeping animals has been jailed after hiding a cat under her bed when an inspector came knocking.

Officials found Deborah Fuller, 64, had also been secretly keeping six horses, three dogs and another cat despite her ban.

Fuller, of Harwich Road, Lawford, admitted six offences of breaching a disqualification order and was jailed for 34 weeks at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard the RSPCA attended her property in February last year following reports that she might have pets there.

Gazette: Heartbreaking - one of the dogs found in a caravan owned by Deborah FullerHeartbreaking - one of the dogs found in a caravan owned by Deborah Fuller (Image: RSPCA)

During the warrant, two dogs - a Rhodesian ridgeback and a basset hound - and a cat were removed from her house.

The basset hound was found in a caravan tethered on a short metal chain inside a cage which had been shut with cable ties.

RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson said: “There was no water, no food, not even an empty bowl where the dog may have had water. There was torn-up bedding piled up underneath the dog.

“The dog was unable to move properly due to the chain. He could not access all of his crate as his chain held him to one end, and even when sitting up at the end he was confined to, the chain pulled taut against his fur.”

Gazette: Awful conditions - a cat found by the RSPCA inspectorAwful conditions - a cat found by the RSPCA inspector (Image: RSPCA)

Documents located at the address also led the RSPCA to locating horses being kept at a local livery yard which Fuller jointly owned with another person.

The RSPCA and police visited again in October 2022 after further concerns were raised.

On this visit, a Jack Russell was found in the upstairs area of her property.

Further searches of the house led Ms Richardson to find a cat hidden in a carrier under a bed.

Gazette: Found - a Jack Russell found at the propertyFound - a Jack Russell found at the property (Image: RSPCA)

She added: “I soon discovered that hidden under a box, under the bed, was a plastic box full of filthy cat litter.

“Pushed behind this litter tray, under the box, under the bed, was a plastic cat carrier on its side.

“I was truly amazed to find a cat inside this box. He had no food or water in the box, and was sitting on the plastic due to the box being on its side.”

Fuller was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and a £127 surcharge.