Five people have been found guilty of neglecting more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys on a Buckinghamshire farm.
Horse trader James Gray, 45, and his son James Gray Junior, 16, were found guilty of 11 charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
His wife Julie Gray, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, were each found guilty of two charges.
HORSE carcasses rot on a farm in shocking images shown to a court yesterday. Up to 24 bodies were filmed by the RSPCA, probing one of its “worst ever” cruelty cases.
Seven skulls were found. And more than 100 emaciated horses and donkeys were videoed still alive, allegedly penned in with carcasses at their feet, no food and a water trough with their own mess in it.
The British Horse Society today (Monday 15 December) expressed distress at the collection of RSPCA footage shot at Spindle Farm, which was released today by Andrew Vickers, sitting at Bicester Magistrates’ Court.
BHS Senior Executive, Welfare, Lee Hackett said: “The pictures and video footage that have been released today are both shocking and disturbing and clearly show the horrific conditions that these horses, ponies and donkeys were being forced to survive in.
“While the pictures make for extremely harrowing viewing, they serve as an important reminder that we must learn lessons from this case and do whatever we can to avoid any repeat of this kind of distressing scenario in the future.
“Whatever the outcome of the trial, we have to be grateful that so many animals were successfully rescued and are recuperating thanks to the sterling work done by a number of equine welfare charities.”
RSPCA inspectors were told a horse “in need of specialist care” was being treated for “a snuffly nose”, a court heard today.
The animal was one of several that were ordered to be removed from Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, following an inspection in January this year.
But the farm’s owner, 45-year-old James Gray, told vet Bob Baskerville there was no need for it to be taken into care.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Skinner told Bicester Magistrates’ Court Mr Baskerville said one of the equines “would die if it was left” at the farm.
Mr Baskerville also recommended a number of animals be removed from the farm following examinations – three of which were “in need of specialist care”.
A court has been shown images of horses allegedly left to starve on a family run farm in Buckinghamshire.
The photographs and video footage were taken by RSPCA inspectors when they were called to Spindle Farm, Amersham.
One photograph shown to Bicester Magistrates’ Court showed a pile of skulls and bones. James Gray, 45, Julie Gray, 41, Jodie Gray, 26, Cordelia Gray, 20, and another person who cannot be named deny charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
They face a total of 12 charges which relate to causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of horses, ponies and donkeys.
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