MORE than thirty horses, ponies and donkeys found dead at a south Bucks farm had “starved” and been “left to die”, a court heard today.
The carcasses were discovered next to living animals “in a really disgusting state” at Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, in January.
RSPCA inspectors called to the farm said it was the “worst case of animal suffering” they had ever seen.
Four members of the same family each deny 12 charges of animal cruelty at Bicester Magistrates Court, in a trial set to last for fifty days.
James Gray, 45, Julie Gray, 41, and Cordelia Gray, 20, all of Spindles Farm, and 26-year-old Jodie Gray, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, deny the allegations.
A teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons faces the same allegations.
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The ‘grotesque’ treatment of more than 100 horses and donkeys at a family farm was the worst case of animal cruelty ever witnessed by experienced vets, a court heard yesterday.
Hardened RSPCA officers discovered severely emaciated animals cooped up in pens with rotting carcasses when they raided the farm earlier this year, it is alleged.
As they crossed the fields owned by meat trader Jamie Gray, they were greeted with ‘the repugnant smell’ of rotting flesh.
In another part of the farm, vets allegedly found a mound of skulls, bones and hooves from horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindles Farm at Hyde Heath in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Many of the surviving animals were so malnourished that they could not stand and were discovered collapsed in the faeces of other horses, a judge was told.
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The hearing will run from 8 – 19 December, adjourn for Christmas and start again on 12 January until early March. This is due to the large number of witnesses and sheer amount of evidence.
The family — James John Gray, Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray from Spindles Farm in Amersham, Bucks will face 12 charges related to section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 — which cover causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the needs of a total of 125 equines.
Monday 7 April 2008
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
…In court on Friday James John Gray, Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray, Jodie Gray and a juvenile pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 — which cover causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the needs of a total of 125 equines…
…The pre-trial review for this case has been scheduled for 28 April 2008, and will also be heard at Oxford Magistrates Court…
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