The owner of an animal rescue and therapy centre has had a lifetime ban from keeping animals upheld after she appealed against a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
Lynn Haydon-Williams, 65, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to multiple animals, including a grey gelding called Caspar, a roan stallion called Deio, and a Thoroughbred mare called Gemma.
The latter horse was riddled with skin tumours and the defendant was advised to have her put to sleep by a vet during an RSPCA inspection in May 2021.
However, it was not until over a year later — in September 2022 — when the mare was removed by the RSPCA and Derbyshire Police that she was euthanised.
Casper, who was suffering with a severe foot condition, was also subsequently put to sleep. So too was a pig suffering with overgrown feet.
An emaciated pygmy goat and an arthritic coatimundi later passed away.
Ten goats, three horses, a pig and a coati were all removed from the centre in total.
Lifetime ban
Haydon-Williams was originally handed the ban from keeping animals after she was found guilty on 28 March 2024 of 13 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Invasive Alien Species Order 2019 following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
The offences relate to the neglect of horses, goats, pigs and a coatimundi at the Haywill Animal Rescue and Therapy Centre, which is located at two sites at Glossop in Derbyshire and Broadbottom in Tameside, Greater Manchester.
She lodged an appeal against her convictions and sentence.
A judge sitting at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, July 3 2025 quashed two of the original convictions, but upheld 11 other convictions against her.
The judge also ruled that Haydon-Williams’ life-time ban from keeping animals should remain in place as well as a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
She is also still required to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
The quashed convictions were for failing to provide a suitable environment for a coatimundi and for keeping the same animal listed as an invasive alien species.
The judge said that the previous sentence imposed was “entirely appropriate”.
They also said: “Despite the poor condition of the animals we have no doubt that the defendant is someone who cares deeply about animals, including these animals.”
Financial impact of Covid-19
Other animals rescued from the centre included lame goats and overweight pigs.
On one occasion in May 2021, RSPCA Inspector Jessica Araujo found “goats with overgrown feet struggling to walk normally and grossly obese pigs”.
At the previous court hearing it was pointed out in mitigation that Haydon-Williams did “good work for many people for a long time” at the centre.
However, the financial impact of Covid-19 had affected her ability to look after the animals.
The surviving animals, a horse and 10 goats, have since been rehomed by the RSPCA.
The judge told Haydon-Williams to pay an extra £600 as a contribution to the costs of her appeal.
Main image of Haywill Animal Rescue and Therapy Centre © RSPCA
