A man has been jailed for five years for what a judge described as the “prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect” of dogs in Essex.

Oaveed Rahman, 26, claimed to be looking after the pets at a rehoming centre called Save A Paw in Crays Hill, Billericay.

But Basildon Crown Court heard the animals were left without food and water in filthy conditions.

After the site was raided in May last year, officers found the remains of 41 dogs.

Some 21 dogs and a cat were rescued, but three of the dogs were so unwell that they had to be put down. A rescued poodle also later went blind.

The court heard that Rahman took around £4,800 from his 11 victims by pretending to run an animal charity, deceiving people into handing over their dogs while often asking for payment for rehoming or rehabilitation.

The pets’ owners cried in court as the prosecution described the conditions the animals were kept in.

Faeces were found inside the pens and cages, and many of the dogs were severely underweight, the court heard.

Veterinary surgeon Amy Cooper, who attended Rahman’s property, said in a statement read to the court: “I can honestly say what I smelt and saw was the most horrific thing I have ever seen.

“It was clear just from a general initial inspection that these animals were all suffering.”

The dogs found alive had been kept in pens or confined to small spaces.

Sentencing Rahman, who appeared via video link from HMP Chelmsford, Judge Richard Conley said his fraud was “an act of betrayal of epic proportions that has devastated many lives”.

“Many animals taken in by you… were subjected to prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect. Some of them died directly as a result.”

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After he was sentenced, one of Rahman’s fraud victim in the court shouted: “F****** bastard, I hope you rot in there you dirty bastard.”

Charities including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and the National Animal Welfare Trust helped rehome some of the dogs, which are now “thriving”, police said. They included a Dachshund, French Bulldog, Chow Chow and Staffordshire Cross.

An RSPCA spokesperson said it had been “an extremely upsetting case for everyone”. They added that “the current lack of regulation and oversight” of rehoming centres was a “major concern”.

Adam Levy, head of rehoming operations at the Dogs Trust, said the case “highlights the urgent need for stronger regulation of rehoming organisations, including licensing and regular inspections”.

Rahman previously admitted to 11 counts of fraud by false representation and one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, relating to 22 animals in his care.

On Friday, he admitted an additional charge of possessing an XL bully – a banned dog breed.

He was jailed for a total of five years and given a lifetime order banning him from owning any animals.