Inside the 'filthy' home of couple jailed for child neglect

A couple had 36 dogs and seven children in their three-bedroom home in Eastbourne.

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

They were jailed for child neglect on Friday, November 4, having been prosecuted by the RSPCA for animal cruelty earlier this year. 

Police were called to the house in June last year. 

The RSPCA removed 36 dogs, including one deceased, from the home (Image: Sussex Police)

• READ MORE: Child found covered in faeces asleep next to dead dog

"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 breath normally due to it," said Detective Constable Fiona Ashcroft of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.

"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. It looked as if it had been filthy for a number of years."

Dogs were barking in the 'filthy' house (Image: Sussex Police)

Detective Constable Ashcroft described the scene: “There was a deafening sound of dogs yapping and barking coming from the room in front of the hallway.

"When the door to the living room was opened, officers were shocked to see dozens of dogs climbing over each other to try and reach the open door. 

"All the dogs looked malnourished and skinny. Their fur was greasy, matted and covered in each other’s faeces.

"In amongst the filth and melee of dogs, officers removed a sleeping child from the sofa, who was dressed in just a soiled nappy and had dogs jumping all over them."