A couple who were paid £7,000 a month in benefits have been jailed for neglect. 

Christopher Bennett, 35, and Gemma Brogan, 41, of Eastbourne "systematically ill-treated seven children" according to Sussex Police.

They had 36 dogs and seven children in a "filthy" three-bedroom house in Eastbourne. 

Police were called to Brogan and Bennett's then address after a report of a domestic incident there on the night of June 14, 2021.

Officers winced when they realised a filthy, neglected seven-year-old asleep on a sofa near a dead dog was covered in animal faeces.

The child was naked apart from a nappy, her hair was matted and filthy and she had been severely neglected for years.

The couple were sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, November 4, having pleaded guilty to seven counts of child neglect on May 9.

Dance teacher Brogan sobbed as Judge Stephen Mooney told the couple they had put themselves first while the children lived in squalor.

“You frittered away £7,000 a month which should have been spent on the children.

“It is impossible for any person to comprehend the enormity of your failings."

Judge Mooney said he wanted to know how on earth this was allowed to happen.

"How do you have 35 dogs, £7,000 in benefits, how is this allowed to happen?"

The Argus:

Detective Constable Fiona Ashcroft of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Upon entering the address, our officers were shocked about the state of the property and had major concerns for the welfare of all the children.

“The stench, as you entered the hallway hit officers hard – they were not able to breathe normally due to the stench.

“The state of the whole house was shocking and repugnant - it was cluttered and was strewn with discarded clothing, litter, rotting food and animal faeces."

Brogan, who ran a dance school in Eastbourne, suffers from a general anxiety disorder.

Sarah Thorne, for Brogan, said the former dance teacher was a victim of circumstance.

"The dogs were a situation that escalated. They had some dogs, they started to interbreed and had puppies in lockdown. They were fed."

A tsunami of circumstances led to the complete breakdown, she said.

"In the past she was running her dance school. Her mental health is suffering, the relationship with Bennett is toxic.

"As a couple, the neglect comes as a result of what they are doing together.

"She did abdicate her responsibilities and will forever be devastated by that decision.

"The neglect was great and it’s been very difficult for her to come to terms with what’s happened because she does love these children."