A jury has seen pictures and video footage of horses allegedly left to starve on a family-run farm.
The images, taken by RSPCA inspectors when they were called to Spindle Farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, show an emaciated horse, another animal just before it was put to sleep and one that had collapsed. Another picture shows a pile of skulls and bones.
Bicester Magistrates’ Court was also shown video footage of collapsed and dead animals in various locations on the property.
The court heard that inspectors discovered the animals living on the farm run by 45-year-old horse trader James Gray.
He is on trial alongside his wife, Julie Gray, 41, his daughters, Jodie Gray, 26, and Cordelia Gray, 20, and another person who cannot be named.
They deny 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act which relate to causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of horses, ponies and donkeys.
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An RSPCA inspector told a court today that she discovered the bodies of 20 animals left rotting among more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys allegedly left to starve at a family-run farm.
Kirsty Hampton said some carcasses were left in pens with live horses, others were burnt and dumped next to a bonfire while some were simply left lying on the ground covered in rubbish.
One dead horse was found on the back of a trailer with ropes around his tail and neck, she said. A court heard she discovered the “horror scene” after being called to Spindle Farm at Hyde Heath in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, run by 45-year-old horse trader James Gray.
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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.”
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Hooves and body parts of horses were discovered scattered around Spindle Farm at Hyde Heath in Amersham, Buckinghamshire as well as a mound made up of bones and skulls, it was claimed.
A total of 140 animals needed rescuing from the horse trading business run by the Gray family which was described as a ‘horror scene’ by RSPCA.
Many animals were allegedly left with little food or dry bedding and were crammed into pens that were ankle deep in their own faeces.
They were also surrounded by the rotting corpses of other animals that had been left to die of starvation, the court heard.
Vets described it as the worst case of animal cruelty they had ever seen.
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More than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys were left to starve among the carcasses of other animals at a Buckinghamshire farm, a court heard.
The “horror scene” was uncovered after RSPCA inspectors were called to Spindle Farm at Hyde Heath in Amersham.
In total, 115 animals had to be rescued and removed from the farm in January.
James Gray, 45, Julie Gray, 41, Jodie Gray, 26, Cordelia Gray, 20, and a teenage boy are standing trial at Bicester Magistrates Court.
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