Man jailed for 'wanton neglect' of hundreds of animals at farm

HORSES, DOGS AND LLAMAS AMONG 19 SPECIES FOUND LIVING IN APPALLING CONDITIONS

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

found on the farm, including rabbits are now in better condition since the investigation Horses and ponies were among the animals found at the farm Animals were found to be living in squalor

(RSPCA)

A MAN in his 50s has been jailed after hundreds of animals, from llamas to donkeys, were found abandoned in a "harrowing" state on his farm in Nottinghamshire.

More than 450 neglected animals, including dogs, horses, farm and exotic animals and small pets, were found living in appalling conditions at Croftfield Farm in Dawgates Lane, Skegby, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

The farm's owner, Lee Hayes, admitted the condition of the animals had "all got a little out of hand", after officers from Nottinghamshire Police and the RSPCA charity visited the site on November 1, 2023, to execute a warrant.

In what would become one of the biggest cases in the RSPCA's history, more than 100 staff from seven other charities helped rescue 455 animals of 19 different species.

This included 70 horses and donkeys, more than 50 dogs and puppies, and more than 170 guinea pigs, alongside ferrets, rabbits and small rodents. Cats, poultry, exotics, birds, reptiles and even a llama were rescued as part of the rescue, named Operation Teal.