Activists say they have raided the farm of a woman who has been jailed for animal negligence - and taken her dog.

Tracy Middleton was this week jailed and banned from owning animals for 10 years after carcasses of sheep, lambs and cattle were discovered on her Ashford farm.

WARNING: Graphic images

Middleton - of Little Oakhurst Brissenden Farm in Bethersden - pleaded guilty to 19 separate charges in December, including causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to provide adequate food and water.

The 51-year-old also admitted to breaches concerning ear tags, and for not sufficiently dealing with the carcasses of nine dead ewes and 15 dead lambs.

She was jailed for 120 days at Margate Magistrates' Court.

But an anonymous activist, who was unsatisfied with Middleton's sentence, has now raided her farm and taken her dog.

In a message to Florida-based animal activist group Bite Back, the raider said: "For a while we have been keeping an eye on the wellbeing of the dog.

"After hearing Tracy's sentencing by the judge and not happy with the fact that she is still allowed to keep two dogs and a cat, we decided to pay a visit to her farm.

"It was of no surprise to find the collie stuck in the mud, locked in a cage without any shelter, food or water.

"We want to see every single animal taken away from that place and go somewhere they will be respected and never neglected again. They deserve their freedom with no threat of slaughterhouses or cold muddy cages."

They go on to claim the justice system has "failed to help this animal".

"We decided that the dog should come with us and spend the rest of their life in a safe and comfortable environment."

They added: "Sadly we were unable to locate the second dog and the cat that were also allowed by the judge to stay under Tracy's precarious 'care'."

Last February, Kent Animal Defenders complained to the RSPCA after finding a dismal scene at the farm near Ashford, despite the RSPCA raising concerns in 2018.

At Middleton's trial in December, the court heard the 340-acre farm held 135 cows and 150 sheep.

On Thursday, Gordon Crow, defending, said Mrs Middleton, who has to pay £8,500 in costs, has "accepted her chaotic management of the farm".

"But to take away her liberty would cause untold problems with her family and her children," he said. "They rely on her, expect to see her every day."

District Judge Justin Barron said: "I realise there's an impact but the purpose of custody is to serve punishment and there are unavoidable issues here.

"I find the suffering was just so serious, only a sentence was appropriate. Not all the animals were well-fed - one was starving and was in atrocious conditions.

"It's been a long period of negligence; the issues persisted until very recently.

"No one could look at those pictures and say your animals didn't experience a high level of suffering."

In regards to disqualification, he said: "It was originally for cattle alone, but - with the exception of the cat and two dogs you currently own - I'm disqualifying you under the Animal Welfare Act from owning animals, participating in the keeping of animals or influencing how they are kept."

Following the decision, there was clapping and tears from activists who had gathered outside the court.

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