A woman has been handed a second lifetime ban on owning animals after being found keeping 21 cats, a dog and a python snake in a flat in East London, despite already being subject to a lifetime disqualification.
Rachel Xie Yin (date of birth: 14.07.1987), of no fixed address, was sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (21 January) after pleading guilty to breaching a lifetime ban originally imposed in June 2015. She also admitted failing to meet the welfare needs of nine cats in her care.
The RSPCA began investigating in January 2025, after a veterinary practice flagged a cat brought to them in a critical condition. Despite emergency treatment, the cat had to be euthanised. Animal Rescue Officer Michael Harrington identified the owner as Xie Yin, who was already banned from owning all animals. She had been using numerous different names while registering animals at several vet practices across East London.
On 6 February 2025, RSPCA officers attended a flat in The Waterson Building, Long Street, East London, accompanied by police. RSPCA Inspector Lee Ricketts said: “I saw three litter trays all of which contained feces, I saw one bowl containing water which I had been informed was placed there by police just prior to me entering the property and had several cats crowding round it, there was feces and what appeared to be diarrhoea on the bedding in the bedroom and feces in the bath containing blood.
“There were a large number of cats, some of which were crowded around the kitchen worktop and on the hob eating old food which had been left in a pan. There was a small black dog also roaming in the property and a snake contained in a vivarium, which had been switched off at the wall, within the bedroom.”
All of the animals were removed from the property and taken to a veterinary practice for examination. Nine of the cats were found to be experiencing ill health, with their needs inadequately met by Xie Yin.
A veterinary surgeon who examined the animals said: “Nine of the cats had health conditions including ear disease, eye disease, poor body condition, fever and dental disease. Many of the animals showed signs of neglect, including faecal soiling and matted fur. This demonstrates that they were not having their needs met through regular and timely veterinary care. The dirty environment may also have contributed to their poor condition.”
The animals are all currently in RSPCA care.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on 21 January, Xie Yin was sentenced to another lifetime ban on all animals, plus £500 costs.
She was also sentenced to 14 weeks custody suspended for 12 months, subject to 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 40 hours unpaid work, with a victim surcharge of £154.
In mitigation, Xie Yin said she thought the previous lifetime ban order had ended. She said she loved animals, but had taken on too many from friends that were travelling to and from China.
