The woman who crammed over 300 rats into her one-bedroom Ashford flat, making a pensioner's dying days a living nightmare, has been jailed for three months.

Stephanie Taylor, 51, who had already been banned from owning animals, was handed the sentence at Staines Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, September 12, after she pleaded guilty to 14 separate charges of animal cruelty at an earlier hearing.

Her partner John Gooch, 71, who had admitted 13 counts of animal cruelty, was given a two-month suspended sentence and 100 hours' community service. Both were disqualified for life from owning animals.

Lynn Allis, whose father Michael Gregory lived next to the couple in Coleridge Road, Ashford, was happy with their sentences.

She said: "I'm really pleased. It sends out a message that their behaviour and cruelty will not be tolerated.

Gooch and Taylor have since moved from Ashford and now live in Bingham Drive, Staines. However, 67-year-old Mr Gregory had to cope with the stench from the couple's home and rodents getting into his house until he died of a heart attack.

The problem escalated after Taylor bought two rats from a pet shop, which started to breed. Wild rats then infiltrated the flat and continued to breed until there were about 316 creatures either caged or running freely in the home.

RSPCA inspector Dave Johnson was called in to deal with the situation in June and saw the case through to the end.

He said: "The whole thing was pretty traumatic for everyone who was involved.

"It was shocking. I have been doing the job for a few years and nothing prepares you for what saw we when we turned up.

"Everyone's stomachs were churned by the sight and smell. In fact, some of the officers had to wait outside."

All the rodents were destroyed.