A Wrotham hoarder has been sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to her 36 rabbits.

Anne Coram, 61, of Thomas Wyatt Way, Wrotham, admitted to a string of offences against the bunnies which were living in “dirty” and “awful” conditions.

Four of the 36 rabbits which were seized by the RSPCA had to be put down to end their suffering.

But it was too late for some of Coram’s herd: four baby rabbits had perished by the time the other pets were rescued.

Coram was slapped with a six-month community order and a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She has been disqualified from keeping any and all animals for two years.

The court also made an order for all Coram’s other animals to be removed and taken into RSPCA care.

The hoarder was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon, who investigated the case, said: “We were contacted in March by members of the public who were concerned about rabbits which kept getting loose and running around a communal car park.

“When I went along to Wrotham and tracked down where the bunnies were coming from I found the rabbits living in awful conditions.

“They were being kept in dirty, dilapidated, run-down hutches which were far too small.”

She added: “There were no runs for the rabbits to exercise in and they had no access to water and very little food.”

“She said that keeping rabbits had started as a hobby for her daughter and it had quickly got out of hand. She took on more and more rabbits and couldn’t cope with the numbers she had.

“People would give her rabbits to keep and those in her care were breeding so it all got out of control.

“We hope now that she will receive the help she needs to tackle the hoarding issue.”

Coram appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court yesterday (November 2).