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140 horses left to die at ‘horror’ farm
Paul Cheston8 May 2009
A family of five were found guilty today of neglecting more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys on a farm.
The animals were left to die of starvation in a “horror scene” surrounded by rotting corpses.
RSPCA inspectors discovered 140 animals when they were called to Spindle Farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Horse trader James Gray, 45, and his son James, 16, were found guilty of 11 charges of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet welfare needs of the animals. His wife Julie, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, were each found guilty of two charges of failing to protect the animals.
Vets described it as the worst case of cruelty they had seen. Horses were crammed into pens, ankle deep in faeces, Bicester magistrates' court heard.
One inspector found 32 carcasses and body parts scattered across the farm, and a mound of bones and skulls. The Grays will be sentenced on 12 June.
Reader views (7)
You surely can't blame the RSPCA Tim? Unless you have reason to be sure they knew and failed to act? They aren't a government body, they are charitably funded and do as much as they can for animals. It's like blaming the NSPCC for the recent failures of social services.
- Real, London, 09/05/2009 15:25
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This Evil man had already been prosecuted & convicted of animal cruelty 3 years ago
- J Smith, UK, 08/05/2009 23:37
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And where were the RSPCA in all this.
At the END they are scuttling around this 'horror' farm.
But where were they before that!!
Overstretched this, understaffed that, with a nice dollop of underfunded there!.
A minimum 10 years imprisonment for all these convicted evil people...each.
- Tim Rathbone, Milton Keynes, UK., 08/05/2009 22:00
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To inflict pain and suffering to any innocent and defenceless creature is the very worse crime man can commit.These two pieces of scum should be chained up in a stable and starved to death.
- Simon, Brentford, 08/05/2009 21:03
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I cried when I first read this story last year - how anyone could treat animals like this beggars belief.
- Sarah, Enfield, 08/05/2009 17:13
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This is an important story - every bit as important as the state of British politics...... this summarizes every greedy selfish self-seeking self-glorifying individual out there following a labour lead! (and I soooo didn't want this to be political!)
- Marianne (Uk National And Tax-Payer), SW France/London, 08/05/2009 14:59
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Finally! A long drawn out victory for common sense. Hopefully these people will be banned from keeping animals for life.
- Marianne (Uk National And Tax-Payer), SW France/London, 08/05/2009 14:34
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