Amersham Horses

JAMES (Jamie) Gray, of Spindle Farm, Amersham, appeared in court on 18 and 21 July charged with trading standards offences brought by two county councils.

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards accuses Mr Gray of two charges of failing to dispose of the bodies of ponies and three of failing to disclose a conviction for animal cruelty when applying for a licence to transport animals.

He denied the charges and magistrates at High Wycombe adjourned the trial until a 10-week RSPCA case involving cruelty to 111 equines, concludes. It is due to take place in December.

Mr Gray also denies five welfare charges relating to animals he was transporting through the docks at Dover being brought by Kent Trading Standards.

A two-day trial has been set for 11 November at Ashford Magistrates Court.

Original Article

Buckinghamshire horse dealer Jamie Gray has been sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer.

Gray, 44, was charged with causing criminal damage and assaulting a police officer when his Spindle Farm in Buckinghamshire was searched on 4 January.

Following the search, 111 horses, ponies and donkeys were rescued from Spindle Farm in Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, in varying states of neglect. The record-breaking operation attracted widespread interest from the media and public up and down the country.

At Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court on 4 February Gray pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to an RSPCA van during the 4 January search. He was found guilty in his absence of assaulting PC James Metcalfe at Aylesbury on 6 May.

Gray’s lawyer, Chloe Fordham, told Aylesbury Magistrates Court that the dealer was “extremely upset” during the search. She said James Gray reacted “impulsively” on 4 January when he pushed PC Metcalfe against a dog cage and threatened to set a rottweiler on him.

The court accepted Ms Fordham’s argument. Chairman of the bench Brian Saunders said PC Metcalfe sustained no injuries, and that “emotions were running high”.

Gray was sentenced to 70 hours of unpaid work for criminal damage, and 180 hours for assaulting the police officer, with the two sentences to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Metcalfe, £100 to the RSPCA and £455 costs within 14 days.

Full article

Buckinghamshire horse trader Jamie (James) Gray has pleaded not guilty to five further charges connected with the RSPCA raid on Spindle Farm, Amersham, in January.

Gray appeared at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 21 May and denied five charges brought by Buckinghamshire County Council Trading Standards that included failing to remove 16 horse carcasses from his land and providing false information on an animal transportation licence.

The case was adjourned to Bicester Magistrates’ Court on 18 July.

Gray was also found guilty of assaulting a police officer by Aylesbury Magistrates on 6 May and is due to be sentenced on 10 June.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (6 June, ‘07)

Original Article

A FARM owner has been warned he could go to prison after being convicted of assaulting a police officer.

James Gray, 44, of Spindle Farm in Hyde Heath, near Amersham, today had his sentencing adjourned until June 10 while pre-sentence reports are compiled.

He was found guilty of assaulting PC James Metcalf at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on May 6, despite not turning up to court.

The incident happened on January 4 when police officers and RSPCA officers went to his farm following reports about “issues relating to horses”.

Julia Jeanes, prosecuting, told the court today that PC Metcalf had felt concerned for his safety after Gray threatened to release a Rottweiler dog on him.

She said Gray later pushed him up against the dog’s cage as he attempted to arrest him for slashing the tyres of an RSPCA vehicle.

The court heard Gray told PC Metcalf: “Come anywhere near me and I’ll nut you”.

Chloe Fordham, defending Gray, said: “There were no aggravating features. Particularly, there was no weapon used. It was an impulsive action and there were no injuries caused to the officer.

“He was in a very stressful situation at time”, she added.

Maureen Lissauer, chairman of the bench, adjourned the sentencing until June 10 and warned Gray “The offences are of so serious a nature we want custody to be considered.”

3:32pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

By Andy Carswell

Full story

THE body of a dead horse has been found at a farm in Hyde Heath.

RSPCA inspectors discovered the carcass at Spindles Farm on Monday after receiving a complaint.

The body of the adult horse has since been removed so a post mortem can be carried out on it, the results of which have so far proved inconclusive, the RSPCA told the Bucks Free Press today.

Its body was not thin or emaciated when it was found and the animal charity has said it is unlikely further action will be taken.

The farm in Chalk Lane was the centre of an RSPCA investigation in January when the bodies of 32 dead horses, donkeys and ponies were discovered.

3:34pm Friday 16th May 2008

By Lucy Clapham

Full story

Speaking after the hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, RSPCA chief officer Tim Wass said: “We are delighted that the judge has suspended his original order.

“The immediate welfare of the animals is secure and we will continue to fight to keep them safe in the future.”

The Gray family, James, aged 44 years, his wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie, did not attend yesterday’s hearing.

Phillip Williams, representing the family in the civil proceedings, said the animals involved were not part of the Grays’ horse trading business but were family pets and were not at immediate risk in their care.

He said there was one pony called Disadvantaged Jenny who the Grays were willing to surrender to the charity’s care to prevent her from undergoing any further stress.

He said: “The animal has digestive problems and is old and blind.

“Not wanting to put that animal through any further stress James Gray is willing to hand her over.”

He said the RSPCA’s officer had only had a short time to assess the conditions on the Grays’ farm.

Judge Kainth said he agreed with the RSPCA that as the animals were pets their business had not been disrupted by having them confiscated.
He said: “I therefore take the view that a stay is the appropriate way forward.

“My original ruling from the 4th of April is suspended.”

The Judge ordered the Grays to pay the RSPCA’s £3,000 legal fees.

The family is due back at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on April 28 to face criminal proceedings for 12 charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals that were removed from Spindles Farm between January 4 and 12, 2008.

Daily Mail
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The RSPCA is fighting a decision to return 29 donkeys and horses to a dealer accused of killing animals through neglect.

Jamie Gray faces charges under animal welfare laws after dozens of dead or emaciated horses and donkeys were found on his property at Spindles Farm, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

Campaigners found 111 animals in Mr Gray’s field and stables in January. Fourteen needed emergency veterinary treatment. A further 31 were dead and three were put down.

The rescued animals are now being kept at secure stables owned by the RSPCA, the Horse Trust, the International League for the Protection of Horses and the Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

However, Mr Gray won the right to reclaim some of the animals following a ruling by Sandeep Kainth, a deputy district judge sitting at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, on the ground that they were family pets. The judge ordered the RSPCA to transport the 29 donkeys and horses to Mr Gray’s farm.

The remaining 82 animals are to be sold at auction. The decision has caused outrage among animal campaigners and the RSPCA has appealed against the ruling.

Mr Gray, 44, wished for speedy return of his animals and so yesterday took further legal action and applied for an injunction in the High Court in London. Mr Justice Wyn Williams however referred the matter back to magistrates.

The RSPCA is to challenge Mr Gray’s request on Monday and is expected instead to ask for permission to rehome the animals.

Tim Wass, the RSPCA’s chief officer, said yesterday: “We have very real concerns for the welfare of the donkeys, ponies and horses involved and we have already asked the district judge to explain his decision.

“Meanwhile we will continue to care for the animals and explore all available legal avenues in order to secure their future welfare.”Susan Lewis, of the Horse Trust, said: “Everyone is absolutely devastated. We don’t understand the decision. I find it staggering we are allowing the animals to go back.”

Mr Gray is facing 12 cruelty and neglect charges under animal welfare laws brought by the RSPCA. This prosecution is due to be heard on April 28 at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Gray, his wife, Julie, 40, and daughters Jodie, 25, and Cordelia, 19, deny the charges. A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges.

Times Online

Amersham horse dealer James Gray is appearing at the High Court in London this morning to ask a judge to force the RSPCA and other welfare charities to return 29 donkeys and ponies

Buckinghamshire horse dealer James Gray is taking out an emergency injunction in the High Court in London this morning (11 April) to force the RSPCA to return 29 ponies and donkeys to him.

A district judge ordered rescue charities to return the 11 donkeys and 18 Shetland ponies to Mr Gray on Friday 4 April.

But as yet the animals have not gone back to Mr Gray.

Mr Gray, Julie Gray, Cordelia Gray, Jodie Gray, all of Spindle Farm, Amersham, and a youth who cannot be named, are charged with failing to meet the needs of 125 equines removed from the farm between 4-12 January this year.

They have pleaded innocent to all the charges brought by the RSPCA and are due back in court for a pre-trial review on 28 April.

Source

The RSPCA has today served summons on solicitors acting for James Gray and his family for the unnecessary suffering caused to 125 horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindles Farm in Amersham

The RSPCA has launched a prosecution against Jamie Gray and three other members of his family for the suffering caused to 125 horses removed from his farm in January.

A total of 12 charges are being brought against James John Gray (44), Julie Gray (40) and Jodie (25) and Cordelia Gray (20), all of Spindles Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham in Buckinghamshire.

Another 15-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will also be facing charges in connection with this case.

They will appear in Oxford Magistrates Court on Thursday 27 March.

The 12 charges related to section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and cover causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of a total of 125 horses, ponies and donkeys.

On 4 January this year, 31 equines were found dead at Spindle Farm in Amersham. Some 111 other horses, ponies and donkeys were rescued in one of the biggest horse welfare cases on record in the UK.

The massive rescue was co-ordinated by Thames Valley Police, Trading Standards and the RSPCA with help from the Horse Trust, the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), Redwings and the Blue Cross.

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