Defence starts in Spindles Farm cruelty case
| Defence starts in Spindles Farm cruelty case By Andy Carswell - Bucks Free Press A HORSE trader accused of animal cruelty told a court today none of the animals found dead at his farm had shown signs of being "depressed or ill" before their deaths. James Gray, the owner of Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, said he had never experienced a loss of animals like the one he had before an RSPCA inspection of the farm in January last year. The 44-year-old said he had sole responsibility for the welfare of the horses, donkeys and ponies - and told Bicester Magistrates' Court two of his co-accused are "frightened" of the animals. More than 30 equines were found dead at the farm by inspectors on January 4 2008. |  |
Gray told the court he dealt with an average of between 2,300 and 2,400 horses a year. Of these, "nine or ten" would die, he said.
And he denied it had ever been suggested to him that any of the animals at his property were being caused "unnecessary suffering" due to him failing to provide a "nutritional, balanced diet" or because the animals were suffering from disease or injury.
When asked by his defence barrister, Mike Fullerton, about some of the horses found dead at the farm, Gray said none of them had shown signs of being depressed or ill.
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Added on: 27/02/09.
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