A horse owner who left his animals in a field with barbed wire, plastic bags and plastic netting has been handed a prison sentence.

The RSPCA discovered dead and rotting horse bodies in a field where more than 30 horses were being kept near Dering Way in Gravesend last year.

Horses' remains were discovered in a contaminated dyke, while there was also a manhole uncovered with a six foot drop underneath.

Describing the conditions as "horrific", the animal charity removed four horses during a visit in February last year.

During the visit, 10 dead horses were found and two exceptionally sick horses had to be put to sleep.

The following month police seized 32 horses belonging to a number of different owners, and passed them into RSPCA care.

Horses in the field had internal and/or external parasites, they were in poor body condition and had no supplementary feed.

A further five horses were shut away in small containers, with no natural light, the tiny space was filled with animal waste and the equines had little or no fresh water or food.

Three owners have since been prosecuted.

John Dunn, who owned 13 of the horses, failed to appear at Medway Magistrates Court where he was due to sentenced on four animal welfare offences.

In his absence district judge Paul Goldspring sentenced the 34-year-old of Dering Way to 26 weeks in prison.

He was also given a 10-year equine banning order.

Bridget Saunders, 31, of Dering Way, admitted two animal welfare offences.

Last month she was given a three-year ban on keeping all horses and given a two-year conditional discharge.

Saunders was also ordered to pay £130 in court charges and costs.

Ronnie Vine, 46, of Havengore Avenue, kept his two horses in a separate field, but admitted one animal welfare charge relating to not providing adequate parasite control.

He was banned from keeping horses for a year and ordered to pay court costs of £1,200, fined £200 and ordered to pay an extra £30.

All three were handed a deprivation order, meaning they had to hand over care of their horses to the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon said after the case: “Many of the horses taken were just youngsters and had probably only known a life of misery, sickness and riddled with worms, in a field far too small for them, with no grazing, and a lack of supplementary feed. It is such an awful shame that in this day and age, we are still seeing cases of animal cruelty of this scale.

“I was truly horrified at the sheer number of horses being kept in such terrible conditions in one small location, the horrors were clear for all to see - yet despite this the owners failed to make improvements for them.

“This is one of the largest number of horses that the RSPCA has taken into its care in the Kent area in recent years, and I am pleased to say that almost all of the horses are now doing exceptionally well.

“But, it has been a long road to recovery for many of them. They have been treated for parasites and other ailments and are now grazing in herds in large fields with more than enough grazing and plenty of loving attention, a stark contrast to their previous lives.

"Six of the mares who were pregnant when removed and they have each given birth to healthy happy foals.

Inspector Russon warned Kent is in the midst of a horse welfare crisis.

She said: "Recent figures released by the RSPCA revealed that this county had the highest number of equines collected in the whole of the country, 76, last year, and we ranked second on the national list for the highest number of equine complaint calls received, 892 about 594 equines.

"Sadly, the horse crisis is still showing no signs of easing up, and we and horse charities across the region continue to have to pick up the pieces as a result of owners not meeting the basic welfare needs of their equines.

"We know people find it frustrating when they see a horse they believe to be suffering and they contact us to take action, but we can only ever act within the law, and we cannot just remove them unless a vet confirms they are suffering and the police seize them. I hope this case sends out a clear message and reassures the public that when the RSPCA has sufficient evidence to bring animal welfare offenders before the courts, we will."