Farmer jailed for 12 months and banned for life after neglecting more than 450 animals, including exotics

A farmer who kept more than 450 animals in squalid conditions has been jailed for 12 months and handed a lifetime ban from keeping animals after pleading guilty to 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act, authorities said. The case centers on Croftfield Farm in Dawgates Lane, Skegby, near Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, where inspectors with the RSPCA found hundreds of animals living in appalling conditions during a raid in November 2023.

The RSPCA described the conditions at the farm as harrowing, with almost all animals lacking veterinary care and several requiring euthanasia to end their suffering. In the operation codenamed Teal, inspectors seized 455 animals across 19 species, including about 70 horses and donkeys, more than 50 dogs and puppies, and approximately 170 guinea pigs. The scale of the neglect prompted a cross‑charity response from more than 100 staff representing seven welfare groups, and the investigation continued for months as care needs were assessed and medical treatment was arranged.

Hayes, 52, admitted the offences at Mansfield Magistrates' Court earlier this month after being charged with 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act. His girlfriend, Tammy Heath, 33, pleaded guilty to two offences related to failing to meet the needs of two dogs found in filthy pens and received a 13‑week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a five‑year ban from keeping dogs.

District Judge Grace Leong said Hayes’s neglect of hundreds of animals across a wide range of species was deliberate and sustained, describing the situation as harrowing. She noted that he had “wantonly neglected hundreds of animals” and appeared to lack insight into proper care, adding that the welfare risk to other animals remained high given the defendant’s history and actions. The court heard that several animals had not received basic veterinary care and that some had to be euthanized to end suffering.

The defendants’ misconduct came to light after Beauties’ Legacy founder Lisa Dean visited the farm in 2023 to investigate a report of a stolen dog, prompting Nottinghamshire Police to raise concerns that accelerated the welfare response. PC Jack Grace, who attended the initial scene, said he was overwhelmed by the foul smell upon entering a barn housing many dogs and reported Hayes to the RSPCA.

The large‑scale rescue involved the seizure of 455 animals, including around 70 horses and donkeys, 50‑plus dogs and puppies, and 170 guinea pigs. Veterinary assessments found numerous animals in dire condition: lame and emaciated cows, goats with overgrown feet, equines with thrush, cats with fleas and flu, and numerous birds and small mammals living in unsanitary, overcrowded enclosures. Donkeys and horses were found with rotting hooves, and some animals had received little to no parasite control or dental care. There were also instances of animals housed in damp, filthy hutches, sheds, and barns, with recognition that some animals had to be euthanized to relieve suffering.

The RSPCA said the case was among the largest it has ever handled and was supported by multiple welfare charities, including The Donkey Sanctuary, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses, the British Horse Society, Dogs Trust, and Beauties’ Legacy. The charities assisted with veterinary assessments, transport, and the rehoming process for horses, donkeys, and other animals.

In a court ruling, the judge granted the RSPCA’s application for costs of £664,650 to be paid by Hayes, with a further collection order for £2,000 against Heath. The RSPCA indicated it may seek recompense for the costs at the High Court. In mitigation, Hayes’s solicitor said poor weather had worsened conditions and that he had become overwhelmed; he argued that many animals were accepted from people who knew he would take them on. The court, however, found the failure to accept help or heed welfare advice unacceptable and underscored the risk of ongoing offending without intervention.

Advocates for the rescued animals described the operation as challenging but meaningful, underscoring the importance of cross‑organization cooperation in safeguarding welfare. Hannah Bryer, Head of Welfare GB at The Donkey Sanctuary, said the case underscored the suffering animals endure without proper care and noted sanctuary support had been offered to donkeys unable to be rehomed in the community. Nic de Brauwere, Redwings Horse Sanctuary vet and welfare lead, described the two‑day rescue as difficult but rewarding as horses and ponies were assessed and prepared for transfer to housing and veterinary care across multiple welfare partners.

This case highlights ongoing concerns about animal welfare on large farms and the ability of authorities to intervene when animals fall into neglect. It also demonstrates the role that non‑profit organizations can play in mitigating suffering through rescue, veterinary intervention, and long‑term rehoming. The RSPCA and its partner charities said the operation will have lasting impacts on the lives of hundreds of animals and serve as a warning to others about the consequences of failing to meet basic welfare standards.