A farmer who kept more than 450 animals in squalor has been jailed following one of the largest cases ever seen by the RSPCA.
Inspectors from the animal charity found hundreds of animals, including dogs, horses, farm, exotic animals and small pets living in 'appalling' conditions at Lee Hayes' farm.
The RSPCA said almost all of the animals had not received veterinary care and several had to be put to sleep to end their suffering following the raid at the farm in Nottinghamshire in November 2023.
Hayes, 52, has now been jailed for 12 months and handed a lifetime animal ban after pleading guilty to 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Mansfield Magistrates Court earlier this month.
Hayes' girlfriend, Tammy Heath, 33, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences relating to failing to meet the needs of dogs Tia and Flicker who were found in filthy pens and was handed a 13-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping dogs for five years.
