Horse farm owner threatened to set dog on police officer
| Horse farm owner threatened to set dog on police officer By Andy Carswell - Bucks Free Press A FARMER who assaulted a police officer during a search of his farm had suffered a "minor nervous breakdown", a court heard. |  |
Gray, who attended court with his wife, Julie, bowed his head and showed no reaction as the chairman of the bench announced his verdict.
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Gray was the owner of a farm from which 111 horses and ponies were rescued in January.
There were 32 dead horses, donkeys and ponies found in one of the biggest horse welfare cases in the UK.
Gray was also charged with criminal damage after he slashed a tyre on an RSPCA van during the search.
Gray pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court on February 4.
He was also found guilty of assaulting PC Metcalfe in his absence at the court recently.
Chloe Fordham, defending Gray, said: "He was at his wits' end at the time in question.
"This was a day when Mr Gray was extremely upset and conditions contrived to make him behave in an inappropriate way."
Miss Fordham said of the assault: "It was an impulsive action which followed a day of the RSPCA and police being on his farm for the whole day investigating animal cruelty matters."
Miss Fordham said that £160,000 worth of stock was removed from the farm, adding this had caused him to suffer a minor nervous breakdown. She said two days later he was referred to a psychiatric ward by his GP.
He was prescribed "strong" medication which he is no longer taking.
Referring to the assault again, Miss Fordham said: "This is not characteristic of Mr Gray. He has no previous conviction for violence and it is very unlikely to happen again.
"He is a family man and a business man who just wants to be with his family and earn some money."
Brian Saunders, the chairman of the bench, said the assault was aggravated by the fact PC Metcalfe "was serving the public and carrying out his duty in protecting the officers at the farm."
Mr Saunders added "It was an impulsive action and there were no injuries to the officer.
"We've heard emotions were running high and stress was being caused to yourself and your family."
Gray was sentenced to 70 hours of unpaid work for criminal damage which had been reduced from 100 hours because of his guilty plea.
For assaulting PC Metcalfe he was made to do 180 hours of unpaid work with two sentences to run concurrently. Gray was also ordered a £100 compensation to PC Metcalfe, £100 to the RSPCA and £455 costs.
He has 14 day to pay all the money.
Mr Saunders added "we are satisfied your offending is serious enough for a community sentence."
Copyright and original report by: Bucks Free Press
Added on: 12/06/08. Views: 199
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