Animal welfare inspectors found injured and dangerously thin horses, a court heard.

The RSPCA visited a field near Place Farm Court, in Rowhedge Road, Colchester, after a complaint from a member of the public about the state of the animals.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard the land is owned by Van Purdy, 60, of Bromley Road, Ardleigh.

The RSPCA found 20 horses in the field on March 30.

Animal inspector Sam Garvey said: “We had a complaint about long hooves, so we went to have a look.

“There was lots more wrong when we got there.

“There were emaciated horses, an injured foal and very poor conditions, so all the horses were seized by the police and handed over to us.”

Purdy said only six of the horses belonged to him, and the RSCPA was yesterday given permission to rehome them.

Purdy was jailed for two years on July 4 for his involvement in a gang of rogue traders who conned vulnerable victims out of their savings.

Stuart Cooper, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “He can’t look after them, so it would be cruel to return them to that venue considering the state they were in.”

As well as granting the RSPCA custody of the horses, magistrates ordered Purdy to pay £2,800 to cover the cost of care and transport of the animals, and legal costs in bringing the case to court.