A woman has been sentenced after more than 200 animals were removed by charities from her farm.

Christine June Kelly of Portsmouth Road, Ripley, was found guilty of 15 offences under the Animal Welfare Act and was handed a suspended sentence.

A total of 204 animals were discovered at the farm in Ripley in one of the biggest animal welfare operations ever to have been carried out in the UK.

Surrey Police executed a warrant at the farm on January 9, 2019 as part of an RSPCA-led investigation into concerns for the welfare of horses at the site.

Rescuers found horses, dogs and farm animals living in poor conditions.

While three animals - two horses and one goat - were sadly put to sleep at the scene, the remaining 201 were taken into charity care, including 129 horses and donkeys, 59 dogs, three alpacas, five goats, four chickens and one duck.

Huge herds of ponies, many riddled with worms, were living out in fields with hazardous metal and broken fencing sticking up from the thick mud.

Inside two barns were pens full of donkeys, goats and ponies; many of them standing on top of two - three feet of months worth of waste and faeces and some who were skinny and had untreated health conditions.

Dozens of dogs - some heavily pregnant and others with tiny puppies in tow - were found chained and tethered on the filthy yard, while others were shut inside tiny cramped cages or makeshift kennels.

Some of the sickest animals received immediate veterinary care while others were taken for treatment nearby, and those that were considered fit to travel by on-site vets were transferred to Bransby Horses, Redwings, The Horse Trust, The Donkey Sanctuary, World Horse Welfare and RSPCA centres for care and rehabilitation.

Despite urgent veterinary treatment - including from vets at one of the country's leading equine hospitals - sadly 14 horses who were weak, emaciated, had serious worm burdens and were suffering from cyathostominosis died or were put to sleep on veterinary advice.

Twenty foals were subsequently born in charity care - although two were sadly stillborn - as well as six goat kids; one alpaca; and nine puppies, although two sadly died shortly after birth.

Kelly was found guilty of failing to meet the needs of 131 equines by failing to provide a suitable environment, a water supply, adequate nutrition, routine dental or farrier care, or adequate parasitic treatment or control and treatment for prevention of illness and disease.

She was also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a number of horses, dogs and goats.

The RSPCA Special Operations Unit case officer, Kirsty Withnall, who coordinated the huge rescue mission and led the investigation, said: "More than 100 people from different agencies spent more than 12 hours assessing the animals, rounding them up and moving them to vets and rescue centres. It's one of the biggest animal welfare operations ever in the UK."

Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Hazel Stevens said in her sentencing summary: "Generally, the premises were in a bad state, the housing for the animals was inadequate and in many cases it presented a risk to the animals contained within the various enclosures.

"There was little adequate shelter, the areas were dirty and muddy, and many animals did not have access to clean, dry resting areas or water to drink.

"There was insufficient grazing and dangerous fences, the property posed further risk to the animals due to loose wire that had become entangled around limbs."

Kelly appeared at Staines Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 25 where she was handed a 26-week prison sentence - suspended for 18 months - as well as being disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

A deprivation order - relating to 12 dogs and seven horses - was also issued, meaning the charities can now rehome them.

All other animals had previously been signed over for care by the charities or to be rehomed.

Donkeys Heidi, Max, Lady, Mars and Karen were taken in by The Donkey Sanctuary, in East Devon. They were nervous and distrustful of people; some were extremely underweight and had severely overgrown hooves.

One of the mares soon gave birth to a foal and, slowly, all of them started to trust again and are now thriving.

Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: "Working on the front line of donkey welfare, our teams are often exposed to situations where donkeys are in desperate need of our help. Cases like this are never easy but the scale of suffering and the numbers of animals in this case was particularly distressing.

"I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of sadness that I felt walking into that barn and seeing the condition of the donkeys and other animals. It was a huge challenge, but everyone worked together brilliantly in difficult conditions.

"Thanks to the amazing care of our teams, the donkeys are enjoying healthy and enriched lives. Knowing they will never experience such suffering again and will remain safe in the care of The Donkey Sanctuary is the best outcome."