Children living in a Herne Bay house were sent to school infested with head lice and smelling of cat urine.

And when police went to their home they discovered animal faeces all over the floor and cats everywhere.

But the mother who allowed it to happen cannot be named because of a legal ruling protecting the identity of the children.

A judge at Canterbury Crown Court heard that the youngsters have since been taken away and are now in foster homes.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey said that police had gone to the property on an unrelated matter in November 2013.

“The child was so badly infested that the back of the child’s neck was raw with scabs where the lice had been biting” - Prosecutor Jim Harvey

“The conditions inside the property were so bad that the police felt it necessary to make a referral to the social services.

“Officials from social services also became concerned and reported that conditions were as bad as they had ever seen, “ he added.

The children were later put on the “At Risk Register” because of the neglect in March last year.

He added: “Social Services tried to help the family but became increasingly concerned about the amount of cats that were living in the house and the faeces that were being left all around the address.

“The woman was given a formal warning and later in the year social services concluded that rather than improving, conditions were worsening and had reached a point where the children had to be taken away,” he added.

Mr Harvey said that one of the children was “infested” with head lice and one of the carers later reported “hundreds of lice” being removed by brushing the hair.

“The child was so badly infested that the back of the child’s neck was raw with scabs where the lice had been biting,” he added.

A detective later described going to the property: “As soon as I entered I was hit by an overpowering smell. I am not able to describe what it was like other than to say it was difficult to breathe.

“There was a strong smell of cigarette smell and small piles of faeces all around. I could see numerous cats roaming freely around.

"You showed no emotion, no insight, no regret and no understanding of the significant neglect you had caused" - Judge Heather Norton

“There were flies constantly buzzing around and I counted at least six cats and there were no windows open and no catflaps.”

On the uncarpeted stairs each step had cat faeces trodden in and the officer added it was “impossible to walk around the property without stepping into it”.

Mr Harvey said the children had gone to school smelling of cat urine and suffering from lice and had to be given fresh clothes.

The mum, in her 40s, pleaded guilty to neglecting the children and was given a 14-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

Phil Rowley, defending, said she had “at the relevant time been suffering a mental breakdown” which had led to depression and a lack of motivation.

Judge Heather Norton ordered her to remain in doors between 4pm and midnight for the next 12 months on an electronically monitored curfew as punishment.

She told her: “What is demonstrated is despite offers of support and help, not only did you make no attempt to improve the situation, conditions in fact deteriorated.

“You gave no explanation for your conduct and in the opinion of the probation officer who interviewed you, you showed no emotion, no insight, no regret and no understanding of the significant neglect you had caused.

“That neglect, I have no doubt, would have caused your children to suffer both physically and emotionally.”

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