Banned from keeping animals, apart from her cats, dogs and horses

A WOMAN kept ferrets in her squalid flat and had a terrapin in her bathtub, a court heard.

Adelaya Boardman, who has mental health problems, had even previously kept ducks in her rubbish-strewn home, a judge was told.

Her solicitor said the 33-year-old was "overwhelmed" by the number of pets she was keeping.

Boardman was banned by Plymouth magistrates from keeping animals other than her cats, dogs and horses for three years.

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She had earlier admitted three charges of failing to meet the needs of three ferrets by not providing a suitable diet, a proper environment and protection from a flea infestation.

Boardman, of the Heathers, Woolwell, also pleaded guilty to a similar charge in failing to protect cats Barney and Twinkle from fleas.

She finally admitted failing to ensure the needs of a terrapin were met by not providing a suitable environment.

John Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said an inspector and a vet visited Boardman's flat in November last year.

He said the environment was not suitable for the animals and the terrapin should not have been kept in the bath.

Mr Wyatt said the vet found a flea infestation and a lack of food and water for the ferrets.

He quoted from a report from the vet which said the "flat was not suitable for human habitation, never mind animals".

Mr Wyatt said Boardman agreed to sign over her pets to the society.

He added she was served with an improvement notice giving her the chance to clean up the flat and avoid prosecution, but the mess was not tidied.

Sarah Glanville, for Boardman, said she had become "overwhelmed" by the number of pets and their living conditions had become unacceptable.

But she said Boardman was under the care of mental health workers and if the flat had been unsuitable for human habitation she would have been removed.

Miss Glanville said the dogs and cats helped her cope with her mental health problems.

The court also heard that she also had horses, but these were in livery and were treated well.

District judge Maurice Champion gave her a conditional discharge. He made no order for costs because of her limited means and her mental health condition.