25 May 2012 Last updated at 07:43 ET

Edinburgh man admits caged animal cruelty

Officers found 10 rats in a cage

An Edinburgh man has admitted to giving limited food and water access to 30 animals crammed in cages piled on top of each other.

Maqsood Asghar, 40, pled guilty to a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare Act at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

On 15 June 2011, Asghar was found with all the caged animals at a flat in Kirk Street. Sentence was deferred until next month for reports.

His solicitor said he had "a compulsive disorder of collecting things".

Fiscal Depute, Tom Crosbie, told Sheriff Neil Mackinnon the police had gone to the flat on an unrelated matter.

Urine and faeces

When the SSPCA officers arrived they were immediately aware of two large dogs. Asghar told them he had other animals in the house.

The officers found a cat, two terrapins, four rabbits and four guinea pigs in a cage, which would normally house a single hamster.

They also found 10 rats in a cage, a number of quail, two doves, two Dumbo rats, two gerbils, two chinchillas, and a mouse.

Mr Crosbie said the animals were in cages stacked on top of one another and there was a very strong smell of urine and faeces.

The decision was made to remove the animals from the flat, he said, and Asghar agreed to transfer ownership of them to the SSPCA.