Latest from Horse & Hound in James-gray

Spindles Farm owner James Gray faces financial ruin

Horse & Hound — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:24:20 +0000

Horse trader James Gray, who was jailed after being found guilty of Britain’s worst recorded case of equine neglect, faces financial ruin after judges rejected his appeal against a £600,000 legal bill.

Gray, 49, was prosecuted in January 2008 when police and welfare agencies raided his Buckinghamshire farm.

They found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys and removed a further 115 that were alive, but in poor condition.

After a 52-day trial, Gray was convicted of 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in May 2009.

He was jailed for 24 weeks and banned indefinitely from keeping or owning equines.

Two of his convictions were overturned in 2010 at Aylesbury Crown Court, but Gray was ordered to pay £600,000 towards the RSPCA’s legal costs.

Last week (12 March), at the High Court, in London, Lord Justice Toulson and Mr Justice Silber dismissed Gray’s pleas that his prosecution was blighted by procedural errors and that the legal costs bill was “grossly disproportionate”.

Gray’s wife Julie, 46, was also prosecuted in 2008 and given a community order. Her legal bills totalled £200,000 but the High Court ruled that was wrong and sent the issue back to the Crown Court to be reconsidered.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (21 March 2013)

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James Gray must pay RSPCA £600,000

Charlotte White — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:06:51 +0000

James Gray must pay a further £200,000 in costs to the RSPCA to cover the charity’s expenses for his unsuccessful appeal — a judge has ruled today (12 November).

The RSPCA removed 32 dead horses and ponies and rescued 111 equines from Gray’s Spindles Farm in January 2008.

And they, and other charities, have had to pay for the animals’ keep since then, as well as court expenses — in all as much as £2m.

Gray lost his appeal against a life ban on keeping horses and 24 weeks’ jail in May, and today Judge Christopher Tyrer, at Bicester Magistrates Court, awarded extra costs to the RSPCA — bringing the amount the horse trader owes the charity to £600,000.

According to a local newspaper, court papers produced at today’s hearing show Spindles Farm has been sold for £1.2m, but Gray filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Gray’s estranged wife Julie, who also appealed but was convicted of two offences of cruelty, has also been ordered to pay £200,000 costs. Mrs Gray has so far only paid £5 of the £750 she was ordered to pay from the original trial.

The Grays’ elderst daughter Jodie Keet was told to pay £500 and her sister Cordelai Gray must also find £750 costs.

Spindles Farm buyer found but most shied away from notorious address

Charlotte White — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:54:38 +0000

The sale of horror property Spindles Farm has still not gone ahead, seven months after being put on the market.

A local man made an offer for the entire farm — which is for sale in four lots — and it has been accepted.

But because James Gray was declared bankrupt in April, Peter Smith, a chartered accountant for property agents PJSA, who are handling the sale, says it is taking longer than usual to progress.

“The buyer is being incredibly patient,” he added.

Mr Smith also told a local newpaper that there had not been much interest in the 40-acre farm and five-bedroomed farmhouse.

He said: “There wasn’t a vast amount of interest. There was enough to make it a competitive market but there wasn’t a great deal to be honest.

“It’s been let go quite badly. The buildings are fairly dilapidated and the house isn’t in a fantastic condition.”

The planned HS2 high speed rail line is also set to go underneath the farm in a tunnel.

See today’s H&H for how the planned HS2 link will affect equestrianism in the Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire area.

Spindles Farm dealer James Gray released from prison early

Horse & Hound — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:01:42 +0000

Dealer James Gray has been released from prison after serving just over 12 weeks of an eight-month sentence for cruelty to around 150 equines.

The appalling conditions discovered at Spindles Farm, Amersham, in January 2008 attracted national and worldwide media coverage.

The case is one of the biggest brought by the RSPCA and cost the charity around £2.3million.

Gray was sentenced to eight months in jail at Aylesbury Crown Court on 27 May, after two weeks on the run.

He was also banned from keeping equines for life.

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards, which assisted the RSPCA in the case, confirmed to H&H that Gray has been released from prison.

But the horse dealer is not living at Spindles Farm, which is currently being sold.

Peter Smith, of chartered surveyors PJSA, said a local man had made a sucessful offer for the 40-acre farm and five-bedroom farmhouse.

But he said because Mr Gray had been declared bankrupt in April, the sale is taking a long time to progress.

Mr Smith said: “We are having to deal with the trustees in Mr Gray’s bankruptcy so it’s quite slow, but the process grinds on. The buyer is being incredibly patient.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (16 September, ’10)

Spindles Farm horse dealer James Gray convicted of five more offences

Horse & Hound — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:02:42 +0000

Disgraced horse dealer James Gray was last week convicted of five offences relating to horses transported through Dover in 2007.

At Folkestone Magistrates Court on 26 July, Gray received a three-year conditional discharge and £9,145 costs.

A spokesman for Kent Trading Standards told H&H: “The offences included transporting 17 horses, who were not individually partitioned within the vehicle, his horses did not have health certificates to be imported/exported and he breached a formal notice not to use an unsuitable vehicle to transport his horses.”

Gray pleaded guilty to the health certificate offence only, but was convicted of all five offences. He has been ordered to pay the costs to Kent County Council within six months.

On 27 May, Gray was sentenced to eight months in prison by Judge Christopher Tyrer at Aylesbury Crown Court.

His sentence was increased by two months for absconding from that court on 12 May.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (5 August, ’10)

Could you rehome a Spindles Farm horse?

Horse & Hound — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:03:11 +0000

Seventeen horses and ponies rescued from James Gray’s Spindles Farm are now available for rehoming by the RSPCA.

Mainly youngsters, the cobs and Shetlands are ready to go to approved homes.

“We’re looking for patient, experienced owners who have the facilities, time and money to care for the horses for the rest of their lives,” said RSPCA rehoming officer Sally Learoyd.

Visit www.rspca.org.uk/amersham.

Horse & Hound’s Spindles Farm investigation diary part II

Horse & Hound — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:14:17 +0000

When 32 dead horses and 111 other equines were removed from Spindles Farm in in January 2008 the horseworld was appalled. We wanted to know how could this happen, why did it happen and what was going on?

But despite 30 weeks of court time — covering the original trial and the Gray family’s appeal — so many questions remained unanswered about the situation at Spindles Farm two years on.

So when the court appeal ended on 12 May with James Gray’s sentence increased from 24 to 26 weeks jail we decided to try to find some answers.

Abigail Butcher (head of news) and I split the feature into two parts — she would look at the issues of what James Gray was doing at Spindles Farm and the theories of possible criminal activity within horse dealing.

I would look at Gray and his family themselves. Learn what I could from his neighbours in Hyde Heath, investigate the lurid claims surrounding his finances and try to find out how a traveller family came to be living in a £2m property in leafy Bucks.

Thursday 13 May

My first day on the case. I downloaded the synopsis of the original case from www.judiciary.gov.uk/docs and sat down for a long read.

There was lots of new information from the trial that I was not aware of having only been able to spend one day in court.

Gray’s casual attitude to his horses’ distress was appalling. “You’re always going to have a few [horses] die when you’ve this many,” he nonchalantly told RSPCA chief officer Robert Skinner, blaming their deaths on worms.

These horses were not thought of as individual, sentient creatures, they were not even treated like sheep or cattle, more like a dirt cheap commodity, to be dealt with in bulk.

“The smell of rotting horseflesh was overpowering… the animals had obviously been dead for days,” said vet Katie Robinson. Another pony was emaciated and propped against the water trough, its penis massively swollen, blistered and sore, with blood dripping from it and staining its hind legs.

And yet Gray was unrepentent and obstructive, letting ponies out to impede the rescue, oblivious to his dogs gnawing on the carcasses.

I go home saddened.

Friday 14 May

Have been looking into the background of the case, digging out the deeds of Spindles Farm with the Land Registry and downloading the stuff relating to his business Grays Horses from Companies House.

We knew the RSPCA has a charging order on the sale of Spindles Farm to try to recoup the £400,000 costs imposed by district judge Vickers at Aylesbury last June. But why does Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre at Barnwood, Gloucester have one too? Intriguing!

And who would have thought that James Gray claims to be a member of the Welsh Pony and New Forest Pony societies.

Dug out letters and details of calls from people living in the local area who contacted us after news of the Spindles Farm horses broke.

And I am trying to arrange a viewing of Spindles Farm with the agents PJSA.

Monday 17 May

Not much time to dig around in the Grays’ history today but have drawn up a (very long) list of people I’d like to speak to — including his farrier.

Tuesday 18 May

Today I heard Gray owes £500,000 to HMRC and has a number of other outstanding bills, including a £7,000 electricity bill.

Wednesday 19 May

Have arranged to talk to Hyde Heath villagers tomorrow about their experiences of Gray and Spindles Farm.

The agents for Spindles Farm have told me that Mrs Gray wants all prospective buyers to visit the property at the same time so she can be out of the way. No chance we can view in time for the article.

Thursday 20 May

A two-hour drive up to Amersham in the sunshine and a visit to the lovely village of Hyde Heath. It’s hard to believe that such a pretty place was the setting for such cruelty.

Villagers are all willing to talk and appalled at what was going on behind the gates at the farm but no-one wants to be named — the fear of reprisals is very real for them.

I saw Julie Gray — Jamie’s wife — outside their £1m house, which is currently on the market, but don’t think she wanted to chat!

Neighbours say the family has moved into breeding goats now they are banned from keeping horses.

I am pleased to see the RSPCA van cruising by the farm late morning. Hear later they were called out to inspect a lame goat. Looks like the community is keeping an eye on Spindles Farm.

I return to London with a full notebook and a very busy day ahead of me tomorrow.

Friday 21 May

Now the hard slog begins — writing the piece for H&H.

There is so much information I’d like to include, like hearing James Gray’s father, also James, is such a hard nut his party piece is placing his hand on a table and whacking it with a club hammer. He doesn’t even wince apparently!

Feel a little bit disappointed that I’m not going to be in the office on Monday when the story is finally knitted together and the pages designed — I’m off on a family holiday to Ireland at 3am — but I know we’ve done a good job.

I also have some good tip offs for future investigations — so watch this space!

Read Abigail Butcher’s blog of her work to bring this exclusive news feature to press.

James Gray sentenced to an extra two months in jail

Horse & Hound — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:25:42 +0000

Disgraced horse dealer James Gray has been given an extra two months in jail for absconding from court.

James Gray of Spindles Farm is beginning an eight-month jail sentence this morning after appearing briefly at Aylesbury Crown Court at 10am today.

Gray was re-arrested yesterday morning after absconding from Aylesbury Crown Court two weeks ago. In his absence, the dealer was sentenced to six months in jail for cruelty offences relating to around 150 equines.

RSPCA chief inspector Rob Skinner, who was first to enter Spindles Farm in January 2008, said he was happy with the sentence.

“I’m pleased the police tracked Gray down and that he is now serving a sentence which reflects the severity of the cruelty suffered by so many horses, ponies and donkeys,” he said.

“This investigation has been one of our biggest ever and has so far cost the RSPCA more than £2.3 million.”

James Gray was arrested at 10.35am yesterday morning (Wednesday, 26 May) on the M5 near Kidderminster.

• See Horse & Hound’s special investigation behind the scenes at Spindles Farm, out today.

Video of James Gray being taken into court

James Gray under arrest after two weeks on the run

Amy Mathieson — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:53:36 +0000

James Gray has been arrested after being on the run for the past two weeks.

Police arrested horse trader Gray this morning (Wednesday 26 May) at 10.35am on the northbound M5 near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire during a random spot check.

Gray absconded from court as he and his family were hearing their appeal against sentence on Wednesday 12 May.

He was sentenced in his absence to six-months in prison for cruelty to more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys.

Gray is due to appear in court at 10am at Aylesbury Crown Court tomorrow (Thursday 27 May).

See tomorrow’s (27 May) issue of H&H for a special Spindles Farm investigation

Horse & Hound’s Spindles Farm investigation diary

Horse & Hound — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:05:35 +0000

Thursday 13 May

James Gray skipped court yesterday, and in our subsequent news meeting, we decide it’s about time we try to find out what he was actually doing at Spindles Farm — an oft-asked question over the past two and a half years.

When the story broke in January 2008, H&H was inundated with calls from locals — and those further afield — who claimed to know the exact story. But while allegations and speculation abounded, there were and never have been any hard facts.

We all hoped more would come out in the court cases — how on earth can someone really starve around 140 horses, 31 of those to death? Nobody knew. And it didn’t emerge in court, either.

We decided to run the story in our 27 May issue, which gave us 10 days to do as much digging as possible to find out more about the man himself, and whether there’s any truth behind any of those rumours.

Charlotte White (H&H deputy news editor) and I divvy up the work on this — it’s a big job with not much time, and though there’s a lot to do, we’re really excited about uncovering some little-known facts. All we’ve reported so far is details of the case.

Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May

Monday and Tuesday are caught up with dealing with the rest of H&H’s news pages — planning, commissioning, writing and dealing with myriad queries. I do, however, download the 136-page judgement issued from Aylesbury Crown Court for some light bedtime reading.

I also write up a conversation I had with a renowned horse dealer the previous week. I’d seen this chap (who, like most in this blog, will remain nameless) at a horse sale about four years ago and was quite nervous about talking to him — he “ran the show”, has a lot of clout and is quite an intimidating individual. I obtained his number via a good contact, dialled and, amazingly, got straight through to him.

I’d actually called him about another matter, and think I’ve persuaded him to meet me to talk about it, but he did tell me one or two things about Jamie Gray. Everyone knows everyone in the horse dealing business, but there isn’t a horse owner (good or bad) in the country who doesn’t know about Jamie Gray and Spindles Farm.

I arrange meetings with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare inspectors, who were first in at Spindles Farm on 4 January, and with Buckinghamshire Trading Standards. The latter tell me the Gray family issued death threats to everyone involved, and warns me to “be careful” — a message I reiterate to Charlotte.

Wednesday 19 May

I spent this morning talking to Peter Green, an expert witness in the case, vet and RSPCA consultant. He tells me some horror stories — like the horse, referred to in the case just as ‘C20’, who was dragged by its tail and head into a trailer by Jamie Gray and his son, driven home to Spindles Farm and left to die. It makes me feel quite sick. Peter tells me that he is very relieved the case is over — everyone is.

I question Peter about the various rumours that have been circulating — drug smuggling, money laundering, using the horses as donors for blood. He said a lot didn’t stack up — Jamie was importing a number of horses, which was unusual for a man who had a number of essentially meat animals — and the fact that he let them starve wasn’t business sense. But he, like everyone I questioned, told me no evidence was ever found that James Gray was doing anything other than horse dealing.

Peter gets quite forceful with me when I suggest bloodletting — he says he’s never come across it in the UK in 25 years of dealing in horse welfare. But then again, would he, as a legitimate and respected vet? We believe it happens on the Continent because it is allegedly the source of the swamp fever outbreak in Ireland in 2006.

Thursday 20 May

I’ve got a “secret” meeting in Amersham today with some people who give me a lot of background on James Gray and horse dealers like him. I realise how little I know about this “underworld” of our society. There are hundreds and hundreds of dealers like James Gray who make money on horses however they can — cash deals at markets and fairs up and down the country. Horses are a commodity to them like a sack of potatoes or a caravan — passports can be forged and money is made wherever, however.

I talk through lots of the theories — again, there is no evidence to support any of them. It hasn’t ever even been proven that the smell of horses can mask the smell of drugs or cigarettes if they’ve been hidden under the floorboards of a horsebox.

Later, I meet David Boyd and Nick White, World Horse Welfare field officers. Nick was first in with the RSPCA at Spindles Farm, and we’ve arranged to drive past so I can see for myself.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Bizarrely, as we stop in a layby at Keeper’s Lane to get into one car, we see RSPCA vans. It turns out to be Martin Rivett, a local inspector, and Rob Skinner, the area chief inspector who was first on the scene on 4 Jan 2008.

They have been back into Spindles Farm about a lame goat — they can’t quite believe it. The inspectors all greet each other like long-lost friends. I talk to Rob about the criticism the RSPCA came under — particularly for being “scared of travellers”.

He looks down at me (I think he’s about 6ft 3in), smiling gently and with confidence. “Abi, we’ve just been in to Spindles Farm a week after they went to court. We are not intimidated and Spindles Farm is not and never was a ‘no-go area’,” he said.

We drive past Spindles Farm, and Nick White stops to show me the metal gates

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

through which the dead horses were all dragged. I can tell this case had a profound effect on him, too. He believes the muck heap at Spindles Farm will probably contain even more horrors.

The most startling thing to me is that between the Gray’s family home and the farmyard where the horses were found, is a smart livery yard. How the family and James Grey got away with this, as the judge said, beggars belief.

I then head on to Aylesbury to speak to Trading Standards — to ask them why they didn’t prosecute James Gray for passports infringements. He had 51 passports for 140 horses. I’m told it was a decision was taken with the RSPCA to prosecute on welfare grounds and that cases can be thrown out if the authorities were seen to be “over zealous”. And anyway, if he had been sentenced for passport offences it would have run concurrently, not on top.

I’d hoped to call in to The Horse Trust, who have 11 horses, ponies and donkey from Spindles Farm, but I’ve run out of time and energy.

Friday 21 May

Charlotte and I have a de-brief with our editor, news team, designers and picture desk. It’s all fascinating stuff and we spend the day writing furiously and making even more phone calls.

I speak to a laboratory that runs a farm producing horse blood to find out if they’d heard of blood being sold on the blackmarket in the UK. They haven’t, but they tell me horse blood is sold into human medicine — I’d assumed it was taken to make plasma and products for horses only.

I also decide to visit a horsemarket outside Buckingham on Sunday with Trading Standards, who are going along for a recce and to check passports.

Sunday 23 May

Back up the M40 from London at 8.30am. I meet Trading Standards in a café at a nearby Tesco to talk through the plan.

We arrive at the market and wander around — I feel so conspicuous, and stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not a horse trader and I don’t look like one. As I wander around the pens of mainly coloured, gypsy cob-type horses, I am eyed suspiciously. One dealer looks particularly unamused by my presence and stands in front of a pen of colts I’m trying to appraise.

There are a lot of colts here — they’re worthless as the owners can’t afford to castrate them. There are two donkeys, one of which looks quite elderly, and one horse looking very stressed and uncomfortable and Trading Standards ask to see its passport. It turns out not to be the correct passport for horse, so the owner agrees to withdraw the horse from the sale and the passport is confiscated.

Kirsty Hampton is also at the market. Kirsty is an RSPCA inspector and the equine “expert” for this area — she too, together with Rob Skinner, was first in at Spindles Farm on 4 January.

Kirsty tells me she’s at the market (in uniform) on her day off because she feels it’s so important the RSPCA have a presence there. Though there are no real welfare concerns that we can see, I feel very reassured by this. I talk through more of the case with her — she, too, is baffled by what Gray was really doing. It’s good to have met these RSPCA inspectors — the RSPCA gets a lot of stick but I have an enormous amount of respect for the inspectors out there on the streets. It’s been an education.

Monday 24 May

A 12-hour day in the office putting the investigation together. Charlotte isn’t in today, but phones in from Ireland with her “editorial comment” to go with the story.

I speak to the UK Borders Agency, who aren’t much help at all — neither they, nor the Crown Prosecution Service, can tell me whether any horseboxes have ever been found and drivers prosecuted for smuggling drugs or contraband.

Similarly, Thames Valley Police can’t tell me whether they investigated James Gray for any other wrongdoing, nor what they are doing to try to find him. Whether his actions of skipping court will make things worse for him is a matter for the court to decide, says the police press officer.

Our picture desk, art department and other newsteam member, Amy, all do stirling work on the pages. It looks very different from the usual H&H report and I really hope people find it interesting – and that they let us know their thoughts. I want to do more of this kind of work, and whether we do or not depends on your feedback.

Did you enjoy our four-page special investigation? Send your thoughts to hhletters@ipcmedia.com

Read Charlotte White’s blog of her work to bring this exclusive news feature to press.

James Gray’s horses rescued from Spindles Farm: then and now

Horse & Hound — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:51:37 +0000

The horses rescued from Spindles Farm in January 2008 finally have their future secured. The RSCPA was awarded ownership when James Gray lost his appeal against his conviction on 12 May. The horses will now be signed over to the charities that have been caring for them for the past two years.

Spindles Farm horses: then and now

James Gray’s Spindles Farm visited by the RSPCA yet again

Horse & Hound — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:25:41 +0000

James Gray’s Spindles Farm has been under scrutiny from animal welfare inspectors yet again.

Last Thursday, 20 May, the RSPCA was called out to the disgraced horse dealer’s property after a member of the public reported a lame goat on the farm.

The visit to Spindles Farm was only a week after James Gray went on the run as he and his family were re-sentenced in Aylesbury Crown Court.

Chief inspector Rob Skinner told H&H: “We had a call regarding a lame goat, we have given advice and did not leave Spindles Farm until a visit from a vet was booked.”

The RSPCA is returning this week to follow up the case.

James Gray and three members of his family have been banned from keeping horses but are allowed to keep other animals, because they were not found to have neglected any other species during the raid on Spindles Farm in January 2008.

The family are understood to have 18 goats at Spindles Farm, which is currently up for sale.

• See this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (27 May) for a special investigation on James Gray and what he was really doing at Spindles Farm.

• If you see James Gray, or have any information about his whereabouts, call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

James Gray is on the run after disappearing from court

Horse & Hound — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:45:32 +0000

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of disgraced horse dealer James Gray, who this afternoon absconded from court.

Gray was present at Aylesbury Magistrates Court this morning, but this afternoon disappeared from court and was sentenced in his absence.

Last Thursday, James Gray (pictured above) lost his appeal against his conviction for horse welfare offences. Last year, Gray was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail and given a life ban on keeping horses.

Today, that sentence was increased to 26 weeks in jail and a hearing on costs was reserved to a later date.

James Gray absconded from court leaving his family to hear their sentences. His wife, Julie, (42) and daughters Jodie (27) and Cordelia Gray (21) were also unsuccessful in their appeals. They will each have to complete 150 hours of community service and are banned from keeping equines for 10 years.

James Gray Junior (17) has to complete a 18-month supervision order and is banned from keeping equines for 10 years.

RSPCA inspectors discovered more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys and the bodies of a further 32 equines at Gray’s property — Spindles Farm near Amersham — between Friday 4 and Wednesday 9 January 2008.

If you see James Gray, call Thames Valley Police urgently on 08458 505 505 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

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Gray family found guilty of cruelty to Spindles Farm horses again

Horse & Hound — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:53:49 +0000

James Gray has lost his appeal against conviction for horse welfare offences. He will now be re-sentenced on 12 May.

His wife Julie Gray (42), and daughters Jodie (27) and Cordelia Gray (21) were also unsuccessful in their appeals.

Gray’s 17-year-old son, also James, was acquitted on two charges, but convicted of the rest.

In a judgement delivered at Aylesbury Crown Court at 10am today, Recorder Christopher Tyrer said: “We are satisfied that these horses were neglected and starved. It follows that the appellants [James Gray and the boy] failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of their protection and they knew or ought reasonably to have known that this would have that effect….

“…We have found that all the appellants were responsible for all these animals and that they knew what was happening on the premises and took no action to alleviate the problems.”

Referring to James Gray, he added: “We are satisfied that, at the time [the RSPCA] visited Spindles Farm in January 2008, these animals were not being fed or watered adequately or at all….he [Gray] sought neither assistance nor veterinary attention to his animals and was still acquiring even more animals from outside, despite being unable to look after them or those he had already brought to the premises.”

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton, who investigated the case, said: “We’re pleased the extent of the cruelty, neglect and suffering endured by the animals in this case has been recognised — and also the RSPCA’s hard work and experience, which was crucial in successfully bringing the case to court.”

The court case and appeal has so far cost the RSPCA more than £1million, including veterinary treatment and care of the rescued horses. The investigation has been one of the RSPCA’s biggest ever.

Gray was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail with £400,000 costs and a life ban from keeping, trading in or transporting horses, on 12 June 2009.

He will learn next Wednesday whether the sentence still stands.

Disgraced horse dealer James Gray’s Spindles Farm is up for sale

Amy Mathieson — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:21:51 +0000

Spindles Farm — the site from which 115 horses, ponies and donkeys in a poor condition were removed in January 2008 — is up for sale.

Owner James Gray appeared in court in January to appeal against his conviction and sentence for cruelty to hundreds of horses in his care.

More than 100 equines were removed from Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath by RSPCA officers. A further 31 were found dead.

He will learn if the judge will overturn his 6-month jail sentence and lifetime ban from keeping horses next week (6 May).

The property is up for sale in four lots with PJSA Ltd in Windsor.

Lot one is the farmhouse and garden, which is for sale at £1.1million.

Lot two is a 2.8 acre patch of land — £100,000

Lot three is 13.33 acres — £150,000

Lot four is a farmyard with 22.69 acres — £450,000

Lot 4 is subject to an interim charging order on behalf of the RSPCA on the beneficial interest of James Gray made at Winchester County Court on 23 September 2009.

PJSA confirmed Spindles Farm has received a lot of interest and that the property splits naturally into two parts.

James Gray received the maximum penalty possible for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on 12 June 2009.

But he and his co-defendants — his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie and a boy who cannot be named — all appealed the outcome of the case.

James Gray appeal against jail sentence starts

Charlotte White — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:54:14 +0000

Convicted horse abuser James Gray was back in court yesterday (11 January) to appeal against his conviction and sentence for cruelty to hundreds of horses in his care.

He contends the horses died of natural causes.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were later removed.

Gray received the maximum penalty possible for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail with £400,000 costs and a life ban from keeping, trading in or transporting horses, on 12 June 2009.

But he and his co-defendants — his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie and a boy who cannot be named — all appealed the outcome of the case.

Now Bicester Magistrates Court, sitting as Aylesbury Crown Court, will go through all the evidence from the trial again, in a case scheduled to take at least five weeks.

Gray and the youth were both found guilty of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Mrs Gray and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years and given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

They were found guilty of failing to protect the animals.

James Gray appeal date put back by seven days

Charlotte White — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:32:52 +0000

The date when Buckinghamshire horse dealer James Gray and his family will appeal their convictions and sentences for horse cruelty has been changed to 11 January, to give the magistrates more time to prepare.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and a youth who cannot be named, of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray was sentenced to six months imprisonment, ordered to pay £400,000 and banned from keeping horses for life. The youth was banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

Gray’s wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years and given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

They were found guilty of failing to protect the animals.

The appeal was due to be heard at Bicester Magistrates Court on 4 January but has been put back by one week.

James Gray returns to court

Charlotte White — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:50:39 +0000

Amersham horse trader James Gray has returned to court after breaking his bail conditions for a second time, H&H has learned.

Gray appeared at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on 1 October after failing to keep to a curfew between 11pm and 5am.

His passport has been confiscated and he must report to police thrice weekly under strengthened bail conditions.

Gray has also been forced to start paying the £17,000 fine imposed for a previous cruelty conviction in 2006.

Gray, his wife Julie, daughters Cordelia and Jodie, and a youth who cannot be named, were found guilty of cruelty to horses at Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath in June.

All five have appealed their sentences and convictions and a hearing is due to take place at Bicester Magistrates Court from 4 January 2010.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (26 November, ’09)

Horse dealer James Gray charged with breaching bail conditions

Horse & Hound — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:34:53 +0000

James Gray has been charged with breaching his bail conditions.

The horse dealer at the centre of Britain’s worst equine abuse case appeared before Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Friday 17 July. He had handed himself into Amersham police station earlier that day.

James Gray from Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, was released on bail in June after appealing against a six-month jail sentence.

He was granted that bail by a judge at Oxford Crown Court on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

But two weeks ago Gray was pictured in The Sun newspaper at a horse fair near Slough in Berkshire. His son, James Gray junior, was also pictured — despite under similar bail conditions.

Police at Amersham arrested him on Friday morning, on suspicion of four bail breaches. During the afternoon hearing he was found guilty of two breaches of bail, but cleared of two others.

He was granted bail on the condition that he does not keep any equine, nor goes within 100 yards of any equine except at his home, where his family are entitled to keep equines while appealing their convictions. He is not allowed to attend any venue used to house horses — such as a horse fair.

On Friday, 12 June, Aylesbury Magistrates Court sentenced James John Gray, 45, to six months in prison, ordered him to pay £400,000 costs and banned him from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life. He served four days before being released on bail, provided he had no contact with equines and pending appeal.

An appeal date for James Gray has yet to be set. He and four members of his family lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

Equine charities blast James Gray for breaking bail conditions

Horse & Hound — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:52:58 +0000

Horse charities have condemned the actions of disgraced horse dealer James Gray, who has been seen breaking terms of his bail.

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray was released on bail last month after appealing against a six-month jail sentence.

He was granted bail on 17 June by a judge at Oxford Crown Court on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

But today, Gray has been pictured in The Sun newspaper at a horse fair near Slough in Berkshire. His son, James Gray junior, is also pictured — despite under similar bail conditions.

A source told The Sun that father and son were “totally engrossed” with horse dealing at the fair, and were “right in the thick of the action”.

World Horse Welfare took in some of the horses from Spindle Farm in January 2008.

The charity’s chief executive, Roly Owers, said: “It beggars belief that having been convicted of the worst case of horse cruelty in UK history and just a matter of days after being released from prison, James Gray is so blatantly abusing his bail conditions.

“World Horse Welfare was one of the first charities to be involved in this case and our Field Officer will never forget the horrific cruelty that James Gray inflicted on his horses.

“Anyone like us who cares for horses has to ask, what will it take to stop this happening?”

Redwings Horse Sanctuary has 29 ponies and donkeys from the Amersham rescue in its care. Chief executive Lynn Cutress said the organisation “felt extremely disappointed” to see the pictures of Jamie Gray at a horse fair recently.

“I know our loyal supporters and the public at large will be very angry to see these images,” she said. “It’s a very defiant attitude to take against the courts and the legal system, showing absolutely no respect for the process.”

James Gray and four members of his family lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

An appeal date has yet to be set.

James Gray released on bail after appealing cruelty conviction

Horse & Hound — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:23:11 +0000

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray has been released on bail after appealing against a six-month jail sentence given to him last week.

Gray was released from prison yesterday (Tuesday, 17 June) after being granted bail by a judge at Oxford Crown Court. Gray was bailed on the condition that he does not keep, deal or transport horses.

James Gray and four members of his family from Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, have lodged appeals against their sentences and conviction of causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to provide protection for animals on 8 May.

James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray and daughters Jodie and Cordelia, were also banned from keeping equines for 10 years, which they cannot appeal for five years. They were given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

Julie Gray was ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia and Jodie £500 each.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at Spindle Farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm is still undecided.

An appeal date has yet to be set.

James Gray jailed for six months and banned from keeping horses

Horse & Hound — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:42:05 +0000

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray has been sentenced to six months in prison and banned from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life.

He was also ordered to pay £400,000 by Aylesbury Magistrates Court, where he and his family appeared for sentencing today.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James John Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and his son James Gray Junior of nine charges of causing unneccessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray’s wife, Julie, and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were found guilty of the two charges of failing to protect the animals.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

This morning, James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray, 42, and daughters Jodie Gray, 26, and Cordelia Gray, 21, have also been banned from keeping equines for 10 years, which they cannot appeal for five years. They have been given 150 hours community service each over 12 months.

Julie Gray has also been ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray £500 each.

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton described the conditions the horses were kept in as “grotesque”.

Speaking after the sentencing, Hampton said: “The RSPCA is pleased the district judge has recognised the extent of the cruelty, neglect and the suffering endured by the animals in this case.

“We see the disqualifications from keeping horses as an effective measure to prevent animals suffering in future.”

If anyone would like to help contribute towards the costs of rehoming and rehabilitating the Spindle Farm horses, visit www.rspca.org.uk/amershamhorses

Horse trader James Gray to be sentenced this afternoon

Horse & Hound — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:29:50 +0000

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray is due to be sentenced this afternoon.

James Gray and his family have appeared in Aylesbury Magistrates Court for sentencing following their convictions last month.

On 8 May, Bicester Magistrates Court convicted James Gray, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and his son James Gray Junior of nine charges of causing unneccessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray’s wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were found guilty of the two charges of failing to protect the animals.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

This morning, James Gray Junior, 16, was given an 18-month supervision order and has been banned from keeping equines for 10 years. He cannot appeal this ban for five years.

Julie Gray has also been ordered to pay £750 in costs, and Cordelia Gray and Jodie Gray £500 each.

James John Gray will receive his sentence this afternoon.

Charities look to recoup Spindle Farm costs

Charlotte White — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:36:12 +0000

The charities that rehabilitated the horses, ponies and donkeys taken from Spindle Farm, Amersham, have mounted separate appeals to recoup some of their £1.2million costs.

The RSPCA rescued 111 equines from James Gray’s farm between 5-9 January 2008 (news, 17 January 2008).

Since then approximately £1,232,000 has been spent on them by four charities.

Helen Briggs of the RSPCA said: “We are very grateful for the charities agreeing to pay for those animals they took in. It’s not been cheap for any of us.

“Eleven went to World Horse Welfare, 21 to Redwings, 14 to the Horse Trust and we have looked after the others.”

Costs have included feed, veterinary treatment, staff wages and livery bills.

The future of the horses will be decided after James Gray and his family are sentenced on 12 June.

• To donate, go to the charities’ websites — www.rspca.org.uk , www.horsetrust.org.uk , www.worldhorsewelfare.org/donate and www.redwings.org.uk

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 June, ’09)

James Gray expected in court today on welfare charges

Charlotte White — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:29:11 +0000

The trial of Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray on trading standards charges restarts today (Tuesday) at Folkestone Magistrates Court.

Mr Gray, of Spindle Farm, Amersham, faces fives charges, dating from September and October 2007, which are being brought by Kent County Council.

He is accused of travelling horses through Dover in an unsuitable lorry and without a valid health certificate for the animals.

The case was due to be heard on 27 May but Mr Gray was unwell. He denies all the charges against him.

A verdict is not expected until 17 July.

James Gray case: justice for horses at Spindle Farm

Charlotte White — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:32:39 +0000

Horse charities have responded with relief to the conviction of Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray, his 16-year-old son James, wife Julie and daughters Jodie and Cordelia, for the wanton neglect of horses at the farm in Hyde Heath.

But what happened and why remains unanswered.

Thirty-two dead and 111 barely alive horses were found in squalid conditions at the farm near Amersham in January last year.

They had little or no feed, water and bedding and were crammed into stalls or tied to walls, fetlock-deep in their own filth. Piles of bones and part-rotted carcasses lay in pens and fields. Salmonella, strangles and worms were rife.

Investigations by police, Buckinghamshire Trading Standards and the RSPCA led to the private prosecution by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The family will be sentenced on 12 June.

Speaking after the trial, RSPCA rehoming officer Sally Learoyd said: “There is no way of knowing what Gray was doing at Spindle Farm. His operation was kept behind a high wall and as clandestine as possible and it did not come out during the trial.

“He is present at markets around the UK and abroad, buying and selling. The horses we found at Spindle Farm were not fit to go to a market, but who knows where he was planning to sell them.”

Responding to tip-offs from the public the RSPCA had visited the farm on several occasions before the rescue but said conditions were “acceptable”.

“We reacted to every call about Mr Gray,” said RSPCA officer Kirsty Hampton.

In court Gray claimed 2,400 horses, ponies and donkeys pass through his yard each year.

Speaking during the case, former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons John Parker, who was an expert witness for the defence, said: “Mr Gray operates at a level of enterprise that is not apparent to the great majority of the public. It is far from every equid that has the luxury of a doting home. The RSPCA in this case has little concept of the basic levels of horse farming.”

For this article in full, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (14 May, ’09)

Editor’s choice: Video of Jamie Gray’s Spindle Farm, Amersham

Horse & Hound — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:59:06 +0000

RSPCA video recorded at James Gray’s Spindle’s Farm near Amersham

World Horse Welfare’s eye witness account

James Gray and teenage son found guilty on all 11 counts of cruelty

Charlotte White — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:02:06 +0000

James Gray and his son James Gray junior have been found guilty of all charges against them at Bicester Magistrates Court today.

James Gray, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and his son James were convicted of nine charges of causing unneccessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Gray’s wife Julie and daughters Cordelia and Jodie were found guilty of the two charges of failing to protect the animals.

The judge today lifted a court order banning James junior from being identified.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were removed alive but in poor condition.

The Gray family will be sentenced at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on 12 June.

RSPCA video footage

*Warning, this video contains graphic images of dead horses*

World Horse Welfare video

Gray faces charges of failing to dispose of horse carcasses properly

Charlotte White — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:21:41 +0000

James Gray is due to be tried in High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court today on five trading standards charges, including failing to dispose of dead horses correctly.

Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, faces three charges of failing to disclose a criminal record when applying for a licence to transport animals and two counts of failing to dispose of animal carcasses in the proper manner.

The charges are being brought by Buckinghamshire Trading Standards.

Gray pleaded not guilty to all five charges on 21 May last year.

James Gray appears in court on transportation of horses charges

Charlotte White — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:44:06 +0000

Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court on 25 March to face five welfare charges related to horses he transported through Dover.

It is alleged that on 4 September and 17 October 2007 Gray, of Spindle Farm, Amersham, transported horses in an unsuitable lorry that did not have partitions and was not licensed to carry animals on long journeys.

He is also accused of failing to cooperate with a notice asking him to cease using the vehicle.

The charges are being brought by Kent County Council.

Gray has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the trial has been adjourned until 27-28 May.

No verdict in James Gray trial until May

Charlotte White — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:06:00 +0000

No verdict will be made in the James Gray trial until May, Bicester Magistrates Court has heard today.

The trial has been adjourned for today due to the ill-health of Gray’s expert witness, vet John Parker, but will continue until Wednesday next week.

The trial must then adjourn until 2 and 3 April, when both defence and prosecution will make their final submissions.

District judge Andrew Vickers will deliver his verdict on 8 May at Oxford Magistrates Court.

James Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, is one of five defendants facing 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

He and the others – Julie Gray, 41, Cordelia Gray, 20, both of Spindles Farm, Jodie Gray, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons – deny all the charges.

Yesterday (12 March) Mr Parker, the former chairman of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said he believed the horses at Spindle Farm could have died from a condition called cyathostomiasis – a serious infestation of worms.

RSPCA officers found 31 dead horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm when they attended in January 2008. A further 115 were later removed.

Robert Seabrook QC, prosecuting, suggested it was “impossible” for so many animals to die in such a short space of time but Mr Parker said they could have died within 48 hours of contracting the infestation.

He said if this was the case it would be “one of the largest outbreaks ever recorded” if properly documented.

But he added: “I am giving the hypothesis that’s what killed the animals, but we cannot prove that because unfortunately evidence has gone.”

Mr Parker told the court evidence from vets and RSPCA inspectors heard already had been “exaggerated” and “overstated”.

Mr Seabrook said Mr Parker had not mentioned cyathostomiasis anywhere in his report on the findings – which amounted to 73 pages.

The vet replied: “My remit until April 4 was not to do with diagnosis. It was to see some horses and see how healthy they were.”

The trial continues.

James Gray cruelty court case to continue next week

Charlotte White — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:37:45 +0000

The time needed to hear the Amersham court case has been extended again to enable James Gray to complete his defence.

James Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, his wife Julie, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, each deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has also pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

Today a spokesman for the RSPCA told H&H that the case now had no stated end date but would just continue.

Originally the case was listed for 10 weeks and was due to finish on 6 March.

Last week the trial was extended until tomorrow (13 March) but the RSPCA has confirmed the case will continue next week.

‘Amersham horses were not starved — they had worms’

Charlotte White — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:03:36 +0000

James Gray did not intend to mistreat his animals, a highly-respected vet has told the trial at Bicester Magistrates Court.

John Parker, a former chairman of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, told the court that he thought Gray’s animals had not been starved, rather they were suffering from encysted red worm.

Speaking at the trial yesterday (11 March) Mr Parker said that was his opinion after looking at RSPCA photographs of the 111 horses, ponies and donkeys removed from Gray’s Spindle Farm, in Hyde Heath in January 2008.

James Gray, 45, his wife Julie, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has also pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

Mr Parker said that he understood that Mr Gray wormed every 10 weeks but always used the same product.

He said: “From what I gather he constantly uses the same product and that would not affect resistant larvae. That is why I don’t think he understands the problem.”

The vet described the problem of resistant larvae as “complex” and said it was not fully understood yet by the veterinary profession.

“There were an awful lot of animals that were in good condition. I could not see, in my mind, why some animals would die while others were in extremely good condition,” Mr Parker told the court.

“To me, if animals were being starved, then the whole lot would show it.”

Mr Parker also told the court that cruelty concerns by witnesses who saw Gray pulling a horse into the back of a trailer using ropes tied round its tail and neck were misguided.

He said: “I have got horses out of water jumps in that manner myself, it’s the way to do it. You can’t hold them by their legs or their reaction is to give you a good wallop.”

The trial continues.

Horses drop down dead all the time, James Gray tells court

Horse & Hound — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:35:39 +0000

James Gray told a court yesterday that it was common for horses to “drop down dead”.

Gray, 45, of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, said some of the animals found on his land had died without warning or displaying any sign of illness.

And he said some corpses, which were left lying on his property for several days, were “family pets” which he was waiting to bury.

The James Gray trial is being held at Bicester Magistrates’ Court, in Oxfordshire. He is being tried alongside his wife Julie Gray, 41, his daughters Jodie Gray, 26, and Cordelia Gray, 20, and another person who cannot be named.

They each 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.

Over the eight-week trial the court has heard that of 140 animals at the farm, many were left with little food or dry bedding and were crammed into pens which were ankle deep in their own faeces.

They were often surrounded by the rotting corpses of other animals which had been left to die of starvation, claims the prosecution.

But Gray insisted today there had been no indication that some of his horses were close to death.

Referring to one animal found near a boundary fence between the family house and one of his fields, Robert Seabrook QC, prosecuting, said: “You say there had been no indication whatsoever that this horse was ill or depressed?” Gray replied: “No.”

“Horses don’t just drop dead, do they?” Mr Seabrook asked. Gray replied: “They do, yes.”

Mr Seabrook continued: “You say this was not unusual, for you to see horses with no signs of illness at all drop dead?” Gray agreed.

The court also heard that two Shetland ponies — one brown and white, and one palomino — were among the animals found to have died on the Gray family farm.

Mr Seabrook said: “This was again an example of an equine dying with no warning, was it?” Mr Gray replied: “That’s correct.”

Referring to another horse found dead in one of the fields, Mr Seabrook said: “You said it (the horse) had been in a very good condition and you came down one morning and it was dead?”

Gray replied: “I have had thin and fat horses drop dead. A fat horse can drop dead as well as a thin horse.”

Gray also rejected suggestions that the carcasses of a donkey — which he described as a family pet — a black gelding, and a mare and her foal were malnourished and “grossly

neglected” when they died.

He told the court: “They were eating well, they had a good body condition. “It was a late foal. Usually that would pull the mare down all winter but it didn’t pull this mare down.”

Mr Seabrook replied: “I suggest to you, Mr Gray, that you are making this up. I suggest that these horses had been grossly neglected.”

The defendant answered: “I suggest that they were not.”

RSPCA inspectors said they found 32 carcasses in different locations after being called to Spindle Farm on January 4 last year.

Some of these were burnt and dumped on a bonfire while others were left lying on the ground, covered in rubbish.

One dead horse was found on the back of a trailer with ropes around its tail, the court was told.

The trial continues.

Jamie Gray trial extended by another week

Charlotte White — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:39:34 +0000

The trial of Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray has been extended for a week to make time for his defence case.

The case at Bicester Magistrates Court had been due to finish on Friday, 6 March, but on Thursday (26 February) district judge Andrew Vickers extended the trial until 13 March.

James Gray, 44, his wife Julie, 41, daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, and a 15-year-old youth who cannot be named, each deny 12 charges of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, for allegedly failing to meet the welfare needs of 132 horses, ponies and donkeys.

The defence case started on Thursday after eight weeks of prosecution evidence.

Mr Gray told the court that none of his animals had seemed “depressed or ill” and the run of deaths before the RSPCA visited his property, Spindle Farm in Hyde Heath, on 5 January 2008 had been unusual.

In the course of four days the RSPCA removed 111 horses, ponies and donkeys, said to be in an emaciated state, and found a further 31 animals dead.

Mr Gray explained that he was solely responsible for the horses, ponies and donkeys at the farm.

He said he ran a limited company — Gray’s Horses Limited — dealing in between 2,300 and 2,400 animals a year. Of these “nine or 10” would die, he said.

He denied that the horses were poorly fed and housed, saying he put hay in the pens twice a day and changed the bedding every two or three days.

Poor weather had meant the bedding had been wet when the RSPCA visited in January 2008, he said, and the overcrowding reported by the RSPCA had been caused temporarily when he brought the donkeys under cover due to the rain.

The case continues.

James Gray takes the stand to begin defence against cruelty charges

Charlotte White — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:14:54 +0000

James Gray will start to give evidence at 11.15am this morning as his defence case starts.

James Gray is facing charges of alleged cruelty to 141 horses, ponies and donkeys removed from Spindle Farm, Amersham in January last year.

Gray, 46, his daughters, Cordelia and Jodie, and wife Julie and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, each deny 12 charges of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act.

The trial, that started at Bicester Magistrates Court on 9 December last year, is scheduled to last for 10 weeks, but has already taken seven weeks.

In the prosecution case, the court heard from vets and RSPCA officers that dead bodies of animals were found with live horses, the some animals seemed to be suffering from strangles and worms and others were very thin.

The case continues

James Gray threatened with arrest over non-appearance at court

Charlotte White — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:04:59 +0000

A Buckinghamshire horse trader accused of cruelty to more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys removed from his farm, has been told he must report to court on time for each remaining day of his trial, or face arrest.

James Gray, 46, of Spindle Farm, Amersham, turned up late to Bicester Magistrates Court on Friday, claiming to have had a puncture, he then failed to turn up at all on Monday.

Gray was also late to court on 22 January, claiming illness.

Gray’s co-accused, his daughters Cordelia and Jodie and wife Julie and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not come to court either on Monday.

The court was told that Cordelia Gray had been rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis. But she was able to attend court yesterday (Tuesday) with the rest of her family and the boy.

Judge Andrew Vickers told Mr Gray yesterday that a condition has been placed on his bail requiring him to be at court by 9.30am each day.

All five defendants face 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act in the case being brought by the RSPCA.

Vet Peter Green, the prosecution’s expert witness, has been giving evidence to the trial since Friday.

He told the court that one of the horses seized from Spindle Farm in January 2008 had been infested with intestinal worms.

He said others had seemed quiet and depressed.

The defence is due to start its case on Friday or Monday.

The trial continues.

Dead foal removed from Spindle Farm by the RSPCA

Charlotte White — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:06:36 +0000

A dead foal was removed from a farm in south Buckinghamshire on Sunday by the RSPCA.

Officers went to Spindle Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath at 12.30pm after being contacted by a member of the public.

They were accompanied by police officers and found the foal in a field. No arrests were made.

An RSPCA officer told H&H the foal would undergo a post mortem examination.

Horse Trust boss is witness at trial of James Gray

Charlotte White — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:51:37 +0000

Horse Trust director Paul Jepson told the Amersham trial last week that “painfully thin” horses, donkeys and ponies, removed from James Gray’s farm in January last year, made a “spectacular” recovery in the charity’s care.

Mr Jepson, who is also a vet, told the trial at Bicester Magistrates Court on Friday (23 January) that one of the 14 animals taken into the Horse Trust’s care increased its body weight by 72 per cent in three months.

The court heard that 14 animals — deemed to be those in the poorest state — were removed from Spindle Farm, in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, by RSPCA inspectors on January 4 and 5 last year, and taken to the Horse Trust at Speen.

A further 111 were seized the following week.

All 14 horses were given a body condition score of either one or two out of five.

Robert Seabrook QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Jepson to describe his observations on how the animals’ condition progressed.

Mr Jepson said: “The turnaround in most cases was pretty spectacular.”

Mr Seabrook asked if this was due to any medical treatment but Mr Jepson replied the animals did not receive “any hi-tech treatment”.

He said: “They just had the basic care you would expect to give to animals. Their needs were attended to. They were provided with shelter, deep, cleaning bedding, space, food and water.”

He added that the animals were wormed twice in the first month of their arrival.

Mr Jepson was asked for his opinion on how the animals had got into the state they were when they arrived at the Horse Trust.

Several showed signs of “parasitism”, with some blood tests indicating traces of salmonella.

One horse showed signs of the “extremely infectious” equine disease, strangles. Mr Jepson told the court it should have been isolated from other animals.

The animals showed “significantly low” levels of an enzyme called albumin in their bloodstream.

Mr Jepson said: “That will happen if you have intestinal damage through, for example, starvation, or if you are not producing it in the liver in sufficient quantities. When you get reduced production, it can be an indication of starvation.”

One horse increased its body weight by 50 per cent, from 230kg to 345kg, between January and April while in the care of the Horse Trust. Another put on 132kg within three months, and others put on 112kg and 99kg.

Mike Fullerton, for the defence, asked Mr Jepson if he was aware a number of animals at Spindle Farm had a good body condition. He replied he was not.

Mr Fullerton said a body conditioning score of two was in the ‘acceptable’ range, according to guidelines. Mr Jepson said it was, but added the body conditions of the animals he examined were still “a bit low”.

Mr Fullerton suggested some horse keepers deliberately keep animals suffering from strangles in with other horses as a way of inoculating the others. Mr Jepson agreed.

One of the seized horses was put down earlier this month due to a severe worm problem it had not been able to overcome.

Mr Jepson said it had been wormed five times since being taken into the care of the Horse Trust.

Five defendants, James Gray, 44, Julie Gray, 41, and Cordelia Gray, 20, all of Spindle Farm, Jodie Gray, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, each deny 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

The trial continues.

James Gray trial on hold for him to visit doctor

Charlotte White — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:50:28 +0000

The trial of Buckinghamshire horse trader James Gray at Bicester Magistrates Court came to an unexpected stop today (22 January) when the defendant failed to arrive in court.

Mr Gray, with wife Julie, daughters Jodie and Cordelia and a teenage boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 12 charges of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act relating to 125 horses, ponies and donkeys.

The case is being brought by the RSPCA and relates to an investigation where officers were called to the Gray family’s property, Spindle Farm in Amersham, on 4 January 2008.

They found at least 15 dead animals and removed 115 horses, donkeys and ponies which were taken to animal sanctuaries.

Four more horses had to be destroyed.

At 10am this morning district judge Andrew Vickers was told by Mrs Gray that Mr Gray was unwell and intended to visit his doctor today.

As Mr Gray had not contacted the court or his solicitor to explain his absence, and was not answering his phone, a family member was sent to find him.

Mr Gray arrived at court two and a half hours later but the judge adjourned the case until he had visited his doctor.

Court staff expect the prosecution to resume tomorrow morning with the testimony of vet Ben Wakeling, of Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre in Aylesbury.

James Gray trial: Spindle Farm horses “unable to walk”

Charlotte White — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:31:29 +0000

HORSES at Spindle Farm were suffering from a “heavy lice infestation” and were unable to walk properly because of overgrown hooves, the James Gray trial heard yesterday (14 January).

Gray, wife Julie and daughter Cordelia, both of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, another daughter, Jodie, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a teenage boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, each face 12 charges of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act relating to 125 horses, ponies and donkeys.

Nicholas de Brauwere, the head of welfare and rehabilitation for the Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk attended the farm as part of an RSPCA investigation.

He told the trial at Bicester Magistrates Court: “I felt the animals would be very likely to suffer if their circumstances did not change with immediate effect.”

He said many animals were “effectively wild or unhandled”, and food and water supplies were “inadequate” in the farmyard and a field where many of the animals were kept.

Mr de Brauwere told the court: “As it was the depths of winter there was sparse grazing on the field and large areas of mud.

“I was of the opinion the amount of grazing on the field was inadequate to sustain the number, types and ages of equines on the field at the time.”

He said there was some hay but felt it was inadequate for the number of horses and ponies in the field.

He said the pens in the yard were “overcrowded”, which he said meant some animals could not feed.

“I felt there were health issues with the majority of the animals. Their behaviour and demeanour was dull and depressed. I felt they were listless and showing very low levels of activity, apart from squabbling over feed when it was present in the pens.”

Mr de Brauwere was asked to describe the health problems being suffered by the equines and told the court: “The clinical signs I could see included collection of discharge, mucus and pus in the corners of the eye.

“The hair coat was of poor quality. There were bald patches and the coat was not always thick enough to provide full winter protection. There was a lot of soiling on the coat, beyond what I would consider typical or normal in that situation.”

He added there was “a heavy lice infestation”, which led to the animals itching “fairly frantically”. In some cases this had caused trauma to the animals’ skin.

There was also evidence of an equine respiratory disease called ‘strangles’, with some animals suffering abscesses, coughing and pus discharge. He also said he examined many animals with “significantly overgrown” hooves.

One of the pens contained evidence of the remains of a dead animal, the court heard. Water troughs in many of the pens contained faeces, he said, which “inhibited” the animals from drinking. This would have led to dehydration and colic, he said. Many were already suffering from diarrhoea.

In all, 13 horses and eight ponies were taken into care by Redwings. One animal was described as having a “dull” coat, and was “very nervous and not used to being handled”. Another pony was described to the court as having “scabby skin, scales and crusting”.

Mr de Brauwere was not cross-examined by the defence.

The trial continues.

James Gray trial resumes at Bicester Magistrates Court

Charlotte White — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:58:14 +0000

Witnesses at the resumption of the Spindle Farm trial on Monday (12 January) have alleged they saw James Gray and a teenage boy treating a sick horse in a cruel manner.

Employees at the National Trust’s Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe, say Gray and the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, came to collect horses which were on the Trust’s land without permission.

Nick Phillips of the National Trust told the court he called Gray in November 2007 alerting him that the animals were on the land.

Gray did not come for them until 18 December after a call from another National Trust worker, Neil Harris, to say that one of the horses had collapsed.

“It was clearly not looking well,” said Mr Harris.

Gray arrived in a 4×4 with a trailer and tried to drive over to the horse but because of boggy conditions had to stop around 25 metres from the animal.

“They made some attempts to get the horse to stand up, encouraging it, lifting it up, pushing its backside and trying to get it to stand on its own four legs,” said Mr Harris.

“They took some rope and a head collar and Mr Gray attached it [the rope] to the tail of the horse. It tried to stand up but couldn’t.

“The animal was then dragged, head and tail, towards the trailer. It was pulled from the front and pushed from the rear in a seesaw motion.”

Robert Seabrook QC prosecuting asked Mr Harris if the horse had moved by itself. Mr Harris replied it had not. “I did think at one point that it was already dead,” he added.

He said the horse was pulled into the trailer with the same seesaw movement and alleged the teenager kicked it to ensure it was fully inside the trailer.

“The horse was not making any resistance, it was almost a dead weight being dragged. Occasionally it twisted but it was being dragged all the way, not smoothly at all,” he said.

Mr Seabrook asked if Mr Harris had said anything to Gray or the boy as they moved the horse.

He replied: “I said this horse is clearly in distress — why don’t you call a vet out or have it shot? I felt that would have been better.

“One of them said the horse would be fine. It just needed injecting.”

A horse with similar markings to the one described by Mr Harris was later found dead at Spindle Farm, but neither Mr Harris or Mr Phillips could say with “100 per cent certainty” that it was the same animal.

Mike Fullerton, for the defence, said that the ground had sloped towards the trailer and as it was wet the horse would have slid more easily.

He also suggested that the teenager had not kicked the horse, but Mr Harris said he was close enough to confirm that the kick had connected with the animal.

Gray and the teenager are among five people who each face 12 charges of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act relating to 125 horses, ponies and donkeys.

The other defendants are Gray’s wife Julie and daughter Cordelia, both of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath and another daughter, Jodie, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex.

The case continues.

Prosecution in Amersham case halted for Christmas

Charlotte White — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:28:21 +0000

Prosecution witnesses continued to give their evidence this week in the trial of the Gray family and a youth at Bicester Magistrates Court.

RSPCA chief inspector Rob Skinner detailed how he and vet Bob Baskerville found animals that needed veterinary attention at James Gray’s Spindle Farm, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, last January, but found Mr Gray unwilling to allow the horses to leave.

Mr Skinner told the court a horse, referred to as KH8, needed specialist care and “would die if it were left” but Mr Gray claimed he was treating it “for a snuffly nose” and there was no need to take it away.

Mr Skinner said: “Mr Baskerville repeated KH8 should be removed. Mr Gray then said: “You are on their side as well” and Mr Gray’s wife Julie, 41, told Mr Baskerville: “You’ve always had it in for my husband.”

When the RSPCA inspectors left the farm, they told Mrs Gray to ensure the animals were given food and water.

When the team returned the next day they found “good quality haylage” was being provided to animals in one of the fields.

Mr Skinner told the court the hay bale had not been there the previous day and added that they found a horse in the field with a badly infected eye.

He told the court a total of 37 horses were in the field that day and “several were in poor condition”.

An animal welfare officer for Buckinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, Geoff Higgins, told the court that he found the remains of several animals on a rubbish heap when he went to the farm on 6 January 2008.

He said horses had access to the rubbish heap, which is against the law.

“The heap was scattered with general detritus — stuff being thrown out, like plastic and pipe. There were a lot of bones scattered across the surface which had the appearance of jawbones and ribs.”

His attention was then drawn to a nearby carcass, he said. The animal had a rope attached to its near hind leg, he said.

James and Julie Gray and Cordelia Gray, 20, all of Spindles Farm, Jodie Gray, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, each deny allegations of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the welfare needs of 132 animals.

The trial continues but is now adjourned until 12 January.

Footage of Spindle Farm released by James Gray trial judge

Charlotte White — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:58:16 +0000

The judge in the James Gray trial has today ruled that video and photographic evidence from the trial can be released to the public.

On Friday H&H Online reported that the Sun newspaper had asked district judge Andrew Vickers, sitting at Bicester Magistrates’ Court, to make public photographs and video evidence shot at Spindle Farm during the RSPCA rescue.

James Gray, 45, his wife Julie, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faces the same charges.

The video can be downloaded from the link below.

RSPCA video footage

Warning: You may find this footage upsetting.

Sun applies to Gray trial judge for photos of dead horses to be released

Charlotte White — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:26:13 +0000

The James Gray trial has been adjourned until Monday while district judge Andrew Vickers, sitting at Bicester Magistrates’ Court, considers an application from the Sun newspaper.

The paper has asked if photographs and video evidence shown in court during the case can be released to the public.

James Gray, 45, his wife Julie, 41, and daughter Cordelia, 20, all of Spindle Farm, Amersham, and daughter Jodie, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, all deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faces the same charges.

The case continues

James Gray trial: bodies of dead horses dumped round farm

Horse & Hound — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:03:08 +0000

An RSPCA officer told Bicester Magistrates Court told how she found the rotting bodies of 20 animals strewn around an Amersham farm when she was called to the scene last January.

Kirsty Hampton was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Buckinghamshire horse-dealer James Gray, his wife Julie, daughters, Jodie and Cordelia and a youth who cannot be named.

All five defendants deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

Miss Hampton was called to Spindle Farm on 4 January. She told the court how she found two dead bodies of horses in a pen with nine live animals and drew Gray’s attention to the bodies of two more horses under a tarpaulin.

She said: “I asked him how the horses had died and he replied that you always get a few who die when you have this many.

“I asked him how they had died and he replied ‘the worms’.”

The RSPCA inspector also found horses in over-crowded pens with no clean water, feed or dry bedding.

One horse was so “painfully weak” it could not stand, while another had blood dripping down its leg from a serious infection.

More bodies, including those of two Shetland ponies, were dumped in other locations around the farm.

Miss Hampton alleged that Mr Gray had become aggressive towards the inspectors and threatened to set his dog on them and she later found one of the tyres on her van had been slashed.

The case continues.

James Gray had mound of dead horses’ skulls in his field

Horse & Hound — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:44:23 +0000

James Gray, a Buckinghamshire horse trader, has been accused of horrendous cruelty to more than 100 animals at his Amersham farm. He created a grotesque mound of skulls and other equine body parts at his dilapidated Spindle Farm, a judge heard today (Tuesday 9 December).

Mr Gray, who is also known as Jamie Gray, 45, his wife Julie, 41, and daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, all deny 10 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and two counts of neglecting an animal’s welfare.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faces the same charges.

District Judge Andrew Vickers, sitting at Bicester Magistrates’ Court, heard how RSPCA officers, called to the Gray family’s property, Spindle Farm in Amersham, on 4 January 2008, found at least 15 dead animals and removed 115 horses, donkeys and ponies which were taken to animal sanctuaries.

Four more horses were so ill they had to be destroyed.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Robert Seabrook QC said RSPCA officers, vets and police were confronted by “a grotesque and disturbing state of affairs”.

“Perhaps most extraordinary, disgusting and distressing of all, a number of carcasses of dead horses [were found] some in the pens with other horses living around them.

“Carcasses in varying states of decomposition were found not only in the pens and yard area, but in various parts of the field.”

As the full extent of the cruelty became apparent, experienced equine vet Bob Baskerville was sent for. Mr Baskerville was forced to destroy a piebald gelding covered in abscesses and another animal almost immediately.

“Mr Baskerville has been a vet since 1955 and he said it was the worst case of cruelty and unnecessary suffering he had encountered,” said Mr Seabrook.

The trial was adjourned after the opening prosecution speech and continues tomorrow (Wednesday 10 December).

James Gray trial opens today at Bicester Magistrates Court

Charlotte White — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:26:57 +0000

The trial of Buckinghamshire horse dealer James Gray has opened today at Bicester Magistrates Court, and is due to last until mid-March.

45-year-old James Gray, his wife Julie, 41, daughters Jodie, 26, and Cordelia, 20, all of Spindle Farm, Amersham, and a 15-year-old youth who cannot be named, each face 12 charges of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, for allegedly failing to meet the welfare needs of 132 horses, ponies and donkeys.

RSPCA officers were called to Spindle Farm on 5 January and in the course of four days removed 111 horses, ponies and donkeys, said to be in an emaciated state, and found a further 31 animals dead.

The first day of the trial has been spent in legal argument.

Jamie Gray pleads not guilty to trading standards charges

Horse & Hound — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:55:40 +0000

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.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (15 August, ’08)

Jamie Gray gets community work for assault and criminal damage

Horse & Hound — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:51:11 +0000

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.