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A six-time Crufts winner who kept 77 hounds in abhorrent conditions has been banned from the competition for life.

Lynda Cooper whose gun dog, Carlos, won multiple awards at the world's largest dog show in 2016, was 'permanently disqualified' from all future Royal Kennel Club events following her conviction for 11 animal welfare offences.

More than 40 dogs and two litters of puppies were found living in squalor at her home in Pontypool, South Wales, with conditions so poor, five had to be put down and two later died.

Video footage of the property showed filth lining every surface and dogs, whose rib cages were showing due to malnutrition, barked at the camera.

Ms Cooper was banned from owning dogs for ten years after she admitted to 11 welfare offences including causing unnecessary suffering to animals and failing to meet the dogs' welfare needs on June 19.

But now the Royal Kennel Club has issued Ms Cooper a lifetime ban from entering any of their events.

A Royal Kennel Club spokesperson said: 'The Royal Kennel Club has confirmed that Lynda Cooper is permanently disqualified from all Royal Kennel Club activities and registrations, including participation in and attendance at Crufts, following her conviction for 11 animal welfare offences.

'The lifetime disqualification came into effect on 21 July 2026.'

Lynda Cooper, whose gun dog won six awards at the world's largest dog show in 2016,has been permanently banned from all future Royal Kennel Club events

Ms Cooper's defence counsel previously told a court that she had 'spiralled' after a bereavement

Torfaen County Borough Council was first made aware of the conditions at the property following a complaint made in July 2024.

The RSPCA were also notified about concerns over illegal breeding which were later found to be true after Cooper bred dogs without a licence.

Officers from the organisation tried to visit the property but were initially denied entry.

A month later, council authorities and a vet obtained a warrant and visited Ms Cooper's home where they found the dogs living in squalor.

Once the council gave permission for authorities to take possession of the dogs, the animals were removed by the relevant authorities.

The hounds were then given medical care, rehabilitated and rehomed by Hope Rescue, a dog charity in South Wales.

After Ms Cooper pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, she received a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, was ordered to pay £10,000 towards council costs and was banned from keeping dogs for a decade.

Ms Cooper had reportedly 'spiralled' after a bereavement, with the maltreatment 'done, not out of deliberate or malicious intent, but out of neglect', her defence counsel told Cardiff Crown Court.

More than 40 dogs as well as two litters of puppies were found at her home in Pontypool, South Wales with upsetting footage showing the animals living in squalor

They said that the situation became 'out of hand' but 'otherwise she had been a loving and good pet owner.'

Hope Rescue's head of operations Sara Rosser said that it was one of the most 'distressing' and 'challenging' cases they had ever worked on - 'not only from the sheer number of dogs but also their condition'.

She previously said: 'On arrival with us the dogs were in a devastating state - severely underweight, many suffering from advanced dental disease and chronic ear infections.

'Older dogs had lost muscle mass and mobility, and were so physically depleted they were unable to reach food before the younger dogs.

'Many, especially the younger dogs, were very nervous and lacking in life experience so required additional support and rehabilitation.'

Ms Cooper's nine-month-old Bracco Italiano gun dog, Carlos, won six awards at Crufts ten years ago - this included the reserve dog challenge certificate and best puppy and junior dog.

Ms Cooper said at the time, per FreePressSeries: 'I have been going for six to seven years and have always won something. Last year I had two firsts, it began as a hobby but like anything you put effort in I have become a ribbon chaser.

'I love my gun dogs and do shows with them every weekend, there is no prize money involved and I do it purely for the joy of it. Crufts this year was a wonderful event and I will be doing it until I drop off.'