Spindles Farm horses have not been returned to Jamie Gray, says RSPCA

The RSPCA has quashed rumours that 20 horses have been returned to Jamie Gray or his father.

The charity helped co-ordinate the massive rescue of 111 horses, ponies and donkey from Spindles Farm in Amersham last month. Today, a spokesman told H&H there was “no foundation” to rumours circulating on internet forums that any horses had been returned to the Gray family.

“We have no information to suggest that we are giving, are going to give or have given any horses in this case back to either Jamie Gray or his family,” said an RSPCA spokesman.

The rescue between 5-8 January of 111 horses, ponies and donkeys from Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath, Amersham, was one of the biggest on record in the UK.

It 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.

While 111 equines were taken out alive, 31 were found dead on the premises and another one was put down at Spindles Farm by a vet.

Farm owner Jamie Gray, 44, appeared in Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Monday 4 February charged with criminal damage, and resisting and assaulting a police officer.

Gray pleaded guilty on the first charge — of criminal damage to the tyre of an RSPCA van — and not guilty to assaulting and resisting an officer.

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