NEIGHBOURS have spoken of the “living hell” they went through living near a nightmare dog owner.

Abdullah Al-Hassan Chowdhury was fined £12,000 at the end of June for keeping a house full of dogs - and failing to comply with noise notices.

Concerned neighbours were forced to log their complaints on a daily basis, with Thurrock Council stating up to 20 dogs were living in the house in Lea Road, Chadwell St Mary.

The dogs consisted of Dobermans, Alsations, rottweilers, as well as a number of large cross-breeds.

As well as stating that the dogs were being raised to work in the owner’s “security business”.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “They were living in what I can only describe as purgatory.

“No proper kennels, no decent food, no exercise or play.

“Often leaving these dogs shut up in make-do ‘kennels’ for days on end. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

“We were told by people living nearer to this house how the dog mess was never cleared, and the yard was never washed down. The number grew until there were 21.

“Some would be taken to work at night and the others would be left outside, often in bad weather.

“I witnessed the dogs being kicked, kneed and hit with sticks.”

And the final straw for many residents was when they witnessed two of the dogs fighting in early June, with neighbours forced to spray a hose over the fence in an attempt to separate them.

Residents have stated one animal was “left in a pool of blood”, and it is unclear what has happened to the dog now.

Although pleased a prosecution has been secured, the resident raised frustrations at what she felt was a lack of action by the RSPCA or police during the ordeal.

Other residents have raised concerns that on the day Chowdhury was due in court, but failed to attend, he was busy moving the dogs out of his home and relocating.

Residents first lodged complaints in June last year.

Initial complaints were made to the RSPCA, but the charity told the Gazette “hands were tied” but all information was passed to police and the council to seek prosecution.

Essex Police initially stated it had hoped to secure a prosecution under the dangerous dogs act.

A resident said: “The situation has not improved for the dogs, on the day he was due in court they were all loaded up in a van and moved off.

“He will just be somewhere else, in a different home, doing the exact same thing, until his new neighbours make the same mistakes and he moves on again.

“It is all well and good fining him £12,000, but will he pay that money? I doubt it.”

Neither Thurrock Council or the courts were able to confirm whether Chowdhury has paid the fine after he was given a 14-day collection order to pay up.

Thurrock Council highlighted months of complaints about barking dogs, but residents insisted the issue ran much deeper.

Thurrock Council has stated it is still investigating whether it can prosecute further.