A farmer has been handed a 12-month prison sentence and a life-time ban from keeping animals following one of the largest animal rescues cases the RSPCA has ever dealt with.
More than 450 neglected animals were seized from Croftfield Farm in Skegby, Nottinghamshire, including around 70 horses and donkeys, over 50 dogs and puppies, and more than 170 guinea pigs.
Cats, poultry, exotic species, birds, reptiles and one llama were also rescued, as well as ferrets, rabbits, and small rodents.
Lee Hayes, aged 53, pleaded guilty to 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (September 18).
The case first came to light after Lisa Dean, the founder of missing dogs’ charity Beauties’ Legacy, visited the farm in 2023 to investigate claims about a stolen dog. Nottinghamshire Police subsequently raised concerns about the conditions the animals were being kept in.
A warrant was served on 1 November when RSPCA Inspector Laura Baker and her team arrived and found many animals living in squalor.
‘The most broken animal I’d ever seen’
“The conditions we found all these animals living in were absolutely appalling,” said Inspector Baker. “The smell of manure hit as soon as you walked through the gate and the sheer volume of animals in dire circumstances was quite overwhelming.
“There was a very lame cow tied up in one of the barns that was the most broken animal I had ever seen.
“There was also a lamb I will never forget, her leg was swinging and the smell of infection from her was the worst thing ever – she’d been attacked by a dog some days before and just left suffering with multiple fractures.”
Horses and donkeys were found with rotting feet and suffering with parasites and poor dental health. Seven donkeys had chronic hoof issues and are now in long-term care with The Donkey Sanctuary.
Over half the 59 equines seized were of poor body condition, with one donkey being so lame that she was put to sleep.
“The floors of barns and enclosures were deep in faeces and stinking, mouldy forage. Most of the mares had mixed with stallions and were falling pregnant, adding to the growing numbers of equines,” said a statement from the RSPCA.
‘Abhorrent conditions’
District Judge Grace Leong said the evidence presented in court of the defendant’s “deliberate and sustained” neglect of hundreds of animals was “harrowing”.
The large-scale rescue, codenamed Operation Teal, saw the seizure of 455 animals of 19 different species altogether.
RSPCA officers were assisted by over 100 staff from seven other charities: The Donkey Sanctuary, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses, British Horse Society, Dogs Trust and Beauties’ Legacy.
The defendant had claimed that circumstances at the farm had “all got a little out of hand”, but the district judge said he had ignored advice to make welfare improvements.
“When the RSPCA and police came they found no improvements,” said the district judge.
“All the animals were still living in abhorrent conditions and severely neglected, which included unsanitary, overcrowded accommodation; dogs living in faeces and urine; goats with overgrown hooves, equines with thrush; and cats with fleas and flu.
“A lot of this could easily have been prevented, but you neglected hundreds of animals of a wide range of species.
“You lack insight in the care of animals and you present a high risk of offending again as far as the welfare of animals is concerned.”
The defendant’s girlfriend, Tammy Heath, also pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences relating to failing to meet the needs of two dogs.
At the same hearing she received a 13-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. She was banned from keeping canines for five years and will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
‘Overwhelmed by the situation’
Hayes signed over a large number of the animals to the RSPCA, but the charity had to obtain a court order to remove the farmer’s stock of equines and farm animals.
In mitigation for Hayes, solicitor John Wilford said poor weather had worsened conditions on the farm.
“Over a period of time he became overwhelmed by the situation he found himself in, he has not acted maliciously.
“All the animals he acquired came from people that knew he would take them on. He did not have the ability to say ‘no’.
“He should have accepted help as he did realise a number of animals the RSPCA rescue needed treatment.”
‘We are grateful for the tip off’
Inspector Baker added that keeping large numbers of animals like this is never a good idea as it requires a lot of time and money to care for them correctly.
She also added that the defendant allowed the numbers to increase, keeping stallions with mares, for example.
“We are grateful for the tip-off that highlighted how badly conditions had deteriorated,” she added.
“We split up into teams over two days to deal with different species and all the animals were systematically health checked and then taken to safe accommodation, where many were treated for their ailments and have since made a good recovery.
“Many of these animals have already been rehomed to enjoy better lives.”
“This was a very challenging two days working with often nervous and unhandled ponies and donkeys that were trapped in horrible living conditions,” said
Redwings Horse Sanctuary vet and Head of Welfare and Behaviour, Nic de Brauwere, added: “It was difficult to see just how poor their quality of life was. Knowing they were heading to a much brighter future, was very rewarding.
“I’m pleased that one of the ponies I got to work with will be finding his forever home with us here at Redwings.”
200 animals remain at the farm
The district judge granted the RSPCA’s application for costs in the sum of £664,650 against Hayes and said the charity will need to seek recompense at the High Court.
She made a collection order for the recovery of £2,000 costs against Heath.
Hayes will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £187 and Heath a surcharge of £154.
Around 200 animals remain at the farm and a deprivation order was made that requires Hayes to set out what animals he still has under his control and gives him or his associates six weeks to rehome them.
