by Lynn Cox

A jobless mum who took in more than 30 cats after advertising herself and her home as a haven for unwanted animals, has been banned from keeping them for 10 years after being found guilty of animal cruelty charges.

Julie Newnham, 38, had advertised herself on the internet as being a ‘forever homes’ place for cats, and scores of people who could no longer care for their pets took them to her thinking they would lead a healthy and safe life.

However, Newnham was sentenced this week after being found guilty of animal cruelty charges.

When RSPCA inspectors went to Newnham’s home, in Homeside, in Borrows Lane, Middle Stoke, after a tip off, they found four cats in very poor condition. They were emaciated, flee-ridden and had sores and ulcers. One cat, called Ruby was so ill, she had to be put down.

In total there were said to be 33 cats at her home, as well as two dogs which are owned by her husband.

The cats were not only emaciated, they were also suffering from diarrhoea. Some had sores and had suffered hair loss and were covered in faeces.

Newnhan allowed the cats to be taken by the RSPCA inspectors. They were all taken to a vet and given emergency treatment and pain relief. Unfortunately Ruby did not recover and had to be put to sleep.

Newnham was charged with four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and two counts of failing in her duty of care as she was responsible for ensuring the animal’s welfare.

She was found guilty in her absence after not turning up for a court hearing in September, but a warrant was issued for her arrest and she was brought back before the courts a few days later.

Her case was adjourned to allow pre-sentencing reports to be completed and she was sentenced before magistrates in Medway earlier this week.

Andrew Wiles, prosecuting for the RSPCA said: “The cats were extremely thin and sneezing and suffering hair loss and diarrhoea. Some were covered in faeces and had large flee burdens.

“One cat had discharged coming out of his eyes and was very thin, and had a ulcer in the right eye, it was at risk of losing it if the ulcer had burst.”

In total, Mr Wiles said the cost of the treatment for the cats and the subsequent investigation had cost the charity just over £5,200, and asked magistrates to consider awarding costs back to them.

Jeremy Betts, defending told the court his client had good intentions when she took in the cats but did not have the means or finances to deal with them if they became ill.

He told the bench Newnham had overstretched herself and that she no longer advertises her services online and said the cats’ ill treatment was not a deliberate act and that his client just could not cope.

Magistrates decided to jail Newnham for 12 weeks but suspended the sentence for 12 months and banned her from keeping cats for 10 years. She was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay a contribution of £1,202.80 towards the charity’s costs.

John Weir, chairman of the bench, said: “Any right thinking person would have realised that these cats needed help.”