A MOTHER with a lifetime ban from keeping animals has been caught with nine hamsters at her home.

Stroud Magistrates Court heard, a random inspection by the RSPCA was paid to Katherine Martin, 45, at her home in Frederick Thomas Road, Dursley when the hamsters were discovered on October 1 last year.

Martin had previously been banned from keeping any animals – except dogs – in 2011 when she admitted unnecessary suffering to her kitten, Nipper. She was allowed to apply for the ban to be lifted in February 2016.

Rafe Turner, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA on Wednesday, said: “The RSPCA inspector suggested that she may have some hamsters.

“She showed them where the hamsters were, in five cages in her daughter’s bedroom.

“She was asked if she knew she was banned and said yes, sorry.”

Martin, who bought the animals from a pet shop in Stroud, was cautioned and agreed to sign over all nine hamsters to the RSPCA.

During an interview with the inspector, Martin, who has previously owned more than 70 cats and rabbits before they were removed from her home, told him that she cleaned her hamsters out twice a week and fed them regularly.

Liz Higham defending Martin, said her client had kept the animals for her 15-year-old daughter who has since been taken into care.

“Ms Martin has always loved animals. She tells me that her partner and mother died last year and that her daughter ran away from home and has subsequently been placed in care.

“She relies on these animals to help with these difficulties.”

Martin was fined £110, ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and to contribute £75 towards the prosecution costs.

The magistrates ruled she should not be allowed to apply to lift her current ban from keeping animals, for another five years.