A Boxley man who kept animals without enough water and in rooms covered in faeces has been found guilty of neglect.

Police and an RSPCA investigator visited Langley Beck's home in Bell Lane in July 2017 to find seven dogs and three ducks in "disgusting" conditions, Medway Magistrates Court heard.

A search of several buildings on his 80-acre property revealed dogs were kept in rooms with surfaces and furniture covered in excrement and, in most cases, without water.

Warning: Distressing images below

Three ducks were also found, covered in droppings in a hot caravan which had all the doors and windows closed, again without water.

One was in such a bad state it was immediately put down. The other two were euthanised later.

Describing what she saw in one portacabin containing four dogs, RSPCA head investigator Ellie Burt said: “It was absolutely disgusting, my eyes were watering with the urine smell that was coming from there.

"There was an overwhelming smell of faeces and it was very damp and stagnant.

“There were piles of faeces everywhere, faeces scraped along the floor, rubbish boxes, there were broken china ornaments.

“Just everything that was completely unsuitable for a dog to be running around in.”

Despite the conditions, a vet who inspected the dogs said they were healthy, but a post mortem examination of the ducks concluded that they had gone at least 12 hours without water.

Giving evidence, 55-year-old Beck said the dogs had all been fed and given water that day and he would have been able to tend to the ducks if he hadn’t been occupied with the police arriving.

When asked about his routine of cleaning the areas the dogs lived in, he remained silent.

Beck says his family have lived in Boxley for more than 100 years, making them the longest running residents of the village.

Friend John Went, who has known Beck for 32 years, said he had no concerns about how the dogs were treated.

“He even cooks for them, he will make them a whole joint of meat or a chicken. There is always water around.

"He even makes them cups of tea sometimes."

Beck was found guilty of failing to provide water and a suitable environment for the dogs and ducks, and causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide medical care when they were obviously ill.

Sentencing was adjourned until February 14 at Maidstone Magistrates Court, when he will be sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.

He will also learn if his dogs, confiscated at the time of his arrest, will be returned to him.