THE first RSPCA official to arrive at the farm at the centre of animal cruelty allegations today told a court of her experience.

Kirsty Hampton told Bicester Magistrates Court how she uncovered more than 20 equine carcasses and others with incurable infections at Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, in January.

She spoke of the “despicable state” of some of the dead horses found in pens filled with faeces.

Miss Hampton told the court of one of the pens: "There was wet faeces in the whole pen and no food or hay.

"There was a water trough in the corner, with faeces in it."

The RSPCA inspector also found mounds of dead animals in fields at the farm.

She told the court: "There was a big mound outside the gate, I noticed bones, there were two dead ponies.

"There was a bonfire opposite the house and in the bonfire, there were three carcasses. They were badly burned with rubbish on top of them."

The court heard the farm's owner, 45-year-old James Gray, did not think there was a problem when he was questioned about the dead horses.

"I asked him why the horses had died and he replied 'you always get a few that die when you have this many'," said Miss Hampton.

"He said it was a worm."

Miss Hampton also told the court some of the animals had incurable infections.

One had “blood dripping all the way down his leg” and another was unable to lift itself up.

"It was a pathetic sight, he was just not able to get up,” she said. "There was a large wound where he had been rubbing himself, trying to get up - the vet decided he needed to be destroyed."

Following the RSPCA inspection of the farm, 115 horses, donkeys and ponies were taken away to animal sanctuaries. Four others had to be put down.

James Gray is one of five people facing a total of 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act of neglect of welfare and causing unnecessary suffering.

Julie Gray, 41, and Cordelia Gray, 20, both of Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and Jodie Gray, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, also deny the charges.

A teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons faces the same allegations.

The trial continues.