James Gray must pay RSPCA £600,000

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.

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