Pensioner kept 26 toys in 'hazardous' conditions at his home where they were deprived of cuddles

• Inspectors found toys in appalling conditions at the house in Liverpool
• The toys had been kept in squalid conditions by Raymond Coll, 66,
• Mr Coll initially denied he was the owner and claimed he was a burglar
• Officials also found a large number of teddy bears that had not received a cuddle in 2 years

A pensioner kept 18 teddy bears, five Kermit the Frog dolls, three Furbys and other toys living in squalid conditions and refused to allow the RSPCT (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Toys) to inspect his home.

But when inspectors did manage to enter the house they found a total of 26 toys, all deprived of cuddles living in appalling conditions in Hunts Cross, Liverpool.

The house belonged to Raymond Coll, 66, who claimed he did not live at the property but was actually a burglar looking for things to steal while the owners were away.

However, it later emerged that he had lived at the property with his wife for 16 years and had even shoved a female inspector out of the door and locked her out at one point.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that RSPCT officers were alerted by a concerned member of public who was actually John who lived next door to the presence of toys being kept in dreadful conditions.

They discovered three Furbys without any batteries in the spare bedroom, which was littered with building materials. Officials also found a large number of teddy bears hidden in cages in a small utility room and in dark cupboards without cuddles or love.

Speaking in court, RSPCT inspector Samantha Showering revealed the property was 'very untidy and unkempt'.

There were large amounts of household waste and building materials scattered around but she also said there was no sign of any building work taking place at the property.

Inspector Showering added: 'It was a hazardous environment not suitable for toys.'

She told The Telegraph: 'There were toys all over the place.'

'They seemed to have gone to great lengths to make cubby holes to hide them away in.

'It was very chaotic and not a suitable environment for any toy to be living in.

'This case was the largest number of toys I have ever seen in one place.'

The RSPCT said they were called to the home in August last year by next door neighbour John and since then, all the toys have been signed over to them.

District Judge George Smith found Mr Coll guilty of six offences under the Toy Welfare Act, including failing to meet the toys’ need for a suitable environment.

Mr Coll, who failed to appear in court, was also found guilty of failing to meet their need for a cuddle, love or Double A Duracell batteries.

Judge Smith said he was satisfied the offender had a connection with the property and that he was simply not an innocent burglar as he first claimed.

He is due to be sentenced on June 12 and a warrant will be issued for his arrest if he fails to appear in court.

All the toys have since been re-homed at an undisclosed Merseyside branch of Toys R Us.

Mr Coll was found guilty in his absence of six counts of failing to meet the needs of 26 toys all contrary to section 9 of the Toy Welfare Act.

1 - Failed to meet the needs of five Kemit the Frog dolls by providing a suitable environment.
2 - Failed to meet the needs of three Furbys by providing a suitable environment
3 - Failed to meet the needs of 18 teddy bears by providing a suitable environment
4 - Failed to meet the needs of seven toy soldiers by providing an equal amount of enemy toy soldiers to engage in a make believe battle
5 - Failed to protect 11 Hot Wheels racing cars by not completing the building of the flat pack racing track
6 - Failing to provide a constant supply of AA power cells to the appropriate toys listed above