THE man responsible for one of Britain's worst animal cruelty cases is behind bars again after RSPCA officials discovered a fresh scene of "carnage" at his home.

Repeat offender Lee Howard pleaded guilty to ignoring a lifetime ban on keeping animals and to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to his dogs, magistrates in Middlesbrough heard yesterday.

The 41-year-old was jailed for six months last year after he left more than 30 animals to die in appalling conditions at Bank Top stables, in Trimdon, County Durham.

At yesterday's hearing, the court heard that RSPCA officers discovered 11 dogs and 16 birds living in atrocious conditions when they called at his then house in Delarden Road, Middlesbrough, in January. All the dogs were in a distressed and unhealthy state and one needed treatment for a serious ear infection.

The birds were being kept in filthy conditions in their cages.

Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Garry Palmer said: "The place was in an awful mess. The dogs were walking around in urine and faeces, which had caused sores on the pads of their feet.

"The yard was absolutely squalid too. We also found birds in cages in an upstairs bedroom.

"It was one of the most disturbing cases I have ever worked on. The scene was absolute carnage. There were dead and rotting animals everywhere. It was incredibly distressing."

Addressing magistrates, John Elwood, representing the RSPCA, said: "The smell of ammonia was overpowering and the animals were living in terrible conditions."

While magistrates were watching footage from his home, Howard kept his head bowed and did not look at the screen.

Alec Bousfield, in mitigation, said: "It is a concern that Mr Howard has been living in the same conditions. It is clear that he has had a difficult time recently."

Howard, now of Shinwell Avenue, South Bank, Middlesbrough, was given four months in prison for each of the two counts of causing unnecessary suffering, to run at the same time, and two months in jail for breaching his lifetime ban, which will run consecutively.

The sentences are due to start after he completes a separate three-month sentence for breaching a suspended sentence for fraud.