Fir Trees Farm, where the donkeys were kept - and seized from

Two of the children's favourites even had to be put down after the farm where 29 were kept was raided.

Covertly-filmed videos showed how donkeys were punched in the face, with one targeted for a running kung-fu style drop kick.

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Fir Trees Farm, where the donkeys were kept - and seized from

By day, the gentle animals thrilled tourists on the sand, giving rides to young holidaymakers.

But at their home they lived in miserable conditions, the court was told, and three people have now been prosecuted under animal welfare laws.

They are Suzzana Taylor, 48, of Fir Trees Farm in Salwick, near Preston, her daughter Grace Taylor, 18, of the same address, and Suzzana's ex-partner Andrew Lomas, 43, of Central Drive, Blackpool.

All three were living at the Â£450,000 farm when it was raided by police, RSPCA inspectors, vets, and council enforcement officers at 8am last September.

The donkeys, and 16 dogs, were seized, District Judge Margaret McCormack heard during a two-week trial at Blackpool Magistrates' Court.

The court was played video clips taken by a neighbour and his wife, which showed donkeys being abused with sticks and whips.

The animals were kicked in the stomach, and Lomas rained punches down on a donkey’s head and face as he held it.

Suzanna Taylor admitted seven offences of inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence to donkeys.

She was found guilty of 11 further offences of failing to provide a proper environment for her donkeys, and failing to provide them with proper welfare by caring for their feet, teeth, skin and other equine illnesses, causing the donkeys pain and suffering.

She was also found guilty of three offences of causing unnecessary suffering to Pomeranian dogs which she bred on the farm.

Her daughter was found guilty of 13 charges of cruelty to the donkeys and dogs.

Lomas admitted inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence to donkeys and was found guilty of ten other cruelty charges.

He was seen grabbing the head collar of one donkey, called Bruce, and raining punches onto its head.

Carmel Wilde, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the cruelty was brought to the attention of authorities by the neighbours who secretly filmed the Taylors and Lomas in action.

They released the footage to the RSPCA after moving from the area.

Donkeys Bethany, who was very underweight, and Floppy, who had an untreated sarcoid growth, were put down.

Both Taylors had licences, issued by Blackpool Council, to have donkeys on the beach and give rides to children and, earlier in the year, the animals passed an annual inspection by a council-employed vet.

Ms Wilde said: "The videos show on different dates the donkeys suffering violent abuse; being kicked punched,whipped and hit with sticks.”

"One was given a flying kick.

“On the day of the raid on the farm, the animals were found in a concrete yard where the floor was covered in their urine and droppings.

“Their bedding was wet and soiled.

"The vets’ evidence reveals that they believed the donkeys had suffered abuse over a long period and were living in fear of pain.”

The court heard how the Pomeranian dogs were also in a wet and dirty area. They had no fresh drinking water, the court heard.

One had a painful and untreated bite, and the others had matted hair and running eyes.

Hannah Briar, head of welfare at animal charity The Donkey Sanctuary, said the area where the donkeys were being kept had broken wooden sides and was in need of repair.

She said the animals' bedding was inadequate, and had just a scattering of dry straw.

She said: "There was problems with drainage and at one stage whilst in the donkey area my boot sunk down to my knee.”

Expert witness and equine behaviourist Ben Hart told the court the donkeys were put through considerable pain, including whips being brought down on them from on high and being punched "like a boxer".

He said: "The donkeys appear to have developed a learned helplessness about the way they were being treated. They were enduring their situation.

"They were stoic as if they had been through it before.”

A former neighbour of the Taylors said: "My wife and I would view footage from our security cameras on a daily basis and, afterwards, we vowed we would reveal the evidence after we found somewhere else to live."

Lomas, who did not give evidence at court, had been refused a donkey licence, while the Taylors' licences have been suspended.

Suzzana Taylor told the judge she had been giving donkey rides on the beach for 15 years and had kept the animals for 20.

She denied failing to meet her herd’s medical needs, and said the donkeys had a sand paddock "to play in".

She said she and her husband split up two years ago and her daughter Grace now helped her.

She claimed to used a farrier regularly and also had the donkeys’ teeth treated .

She told the hearing: ”One of the donkeys which was euthanased was Bethany. She never had a lot of weight.

"She had been rescued from Spain, where she was used as a taxi.

"As for the dogs; we showed the Pomeranians at Crufts.

"They were let out into that run when the tribe of police arrived at the farm."

Grace Taylor said she looked at the donkeys' feet every day, and said she would spread up to 15 bales of fresh straw for the donkeys every day.

The Taylors have now given up the lease on the farm and now live in a horsebox parked on the yard.

They continue to deny the offences, probation officer Brian Weatherington said.

Grace Taylor was given a community order with 30 days' rehabilitation, and must do 150 hours of unpaid work. She must also pay Â£500 costs.

She was banned from keeping any animal for three years.

Her mother was given a 14-week jail term, suspended for a year. She must pay Â£500 costs. She also got a three year order banning her from owning animals.

Animals which were not seized at the raid - some more dogs, and horses - were taken off her by the judge.

Lomas, who has previous convictions for violence, was given 14 weeks' jail, suspended for a year.