The owner of a cat sanctuary has been banned for life from having pets after animals in her care were found dead in a shed.

RSPCA inspectors discovered the decomposed bodies of seven cats at the Cross Country Cat Rescue in Green Lane, Ilkeston, run by Samantha Hall, along with a leg bone of another pet.

The 26-year-old woman, now living in Francis Street, Brinsley, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of eight cats in November last year, as well as failing to provide water to four more cats living inside her home.

The sanctuary had been run by a friend of Hall, but when she became homeless, the woman took her in and let her set up at the house.

Simon Stevens, mitigating, said after the friend had built the shed for the cats, she soon left, leaving Hall with animals.

The RSPCA received a complaint in May 2013 and two officers visited the sanctuary, finding the cats in “reasonable bodily condition.”

They gave Hall advice and a contact telephone number in case she had any problems.

But when the inspectors returned in December, they discovered the bodies of seven cats - one riddled with maggots - in the shed.

Food remnants were found near some of the dead cats but none had access to water. A vet described it as a "disgusting environment and a very distressing one."

Four cats were found alive inside the house, which was "littered with faecal matter, some of which was mouldy," said John Sutcliffe, prosecuting.

When questioned, Hall said the animals had died of cat flu, but this could not be confirmed. If that were the cause, "their suffering would be indescribably awful," the vet reported.

Mr Stevens said: “In hindsight, it was clear she could not care for the cats and was unable to care for herself.

"She dropped six dress sizes through the distress and worry.

“This has had an extremely sobering effect on her.”

Hall was ordered to pay £400 prosecution costs by Derby and South Derbyshire magistrates court and a £60 government surcharge. She was also given 200 hours of unpaid community work.

She now works as a carer for a young person. Although banned for life from keeping animals, she can apply to have it lifted in a decade.

Homes have been found for the four rescued cats.