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Police protect man at horse death farm
9:33am Friday 25th January 2008
Comments (18)POLICE have had to put measures in place to protect the man living at the farm where 32 dead horses were found.
The shocking discovery was made three weeks ago, when a major RSPCA operation staged a rescue of the surviving animals.
Chief Inspector Stuart Greenfield said: "Because of the nature of the case, clearly there's an onus on us to protect his safety and the safety of his family because of reprisals. We have put strategies in place to do that."
The operation began at Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, Amersham after RSPCA officers found the dead horses on January 4, following a tip-off from a member of the public. James Gray, 44, who lives at the farm was due to appear in court on Monday, January 14 on charges of criminal damage and assault on a police officer but the case was adjourned until February at his own request.
CI Greenfield said: "We've got to make sure the family's welfare is a priority and we do recognise the potential for reprisal. A case like this will raise people's emotions - these cases always do, and we recognise that."
CI Greenfield added that as this was part of a live operation he was unable to give any further details.
He explained that the discovery had led to a spike in calls from members of the public concerned at the treatment of horses in the area, and that these complaints had been passed to the RSPCA.
Sophie Wilkinson, spokesman for the RSPCA, said : "At the moment, we are still gathering evidence and investigating. Probably it will be another couple of weeks."
The Horse Trust at Speen has taken on 14 of the starving horses, ponies and donkeys, and other animal welfare organisations around the country have also stepped in.
Click on the link above to see the latest video of how the rescued animals are recovering at the Trust.
James Gray will now appear at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court on February 4 at 10am.
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Elmo, High Wycombe says...
10:11am Fri 25 Jan 08
Again.
Ivor, says...
10:30am Fri 25 Jan 08
clearly there's an onus on us to protect his safety and the safety of his family because of reprisalsIs police time really being used to protect someone who allegedly allowed animals to be mal-treated while the same police officers could be out catching criminals who have committed crimes against the decent hard working members of the public?
Have you read Ivors blog today? Click on the Opinion link on the menu on the left then click on Readers Bucks Blog.
erm, ermsville says...
10:54am Fri 25 Jan 08
However the day that the police can pick and choose who they protect on the basis of whether they are a decent person or not is gonna be a sad day for British policing.
While I hate everything this man has allegedly done, the threats are against his family too, that could include children who might have been unaware of what their father was doing and have a right to be safe and expect protection.
James, London says...
10:56am Fri 25 Jan 08
J, Hazlemere says...
11:01am Fri 25 Jan 08
Iain, Beaconsfield says...
11:17am Fri 25 Jan 08
Becky, High Wycombe says...
11:19am Fri 25 Jan 08
Craig, Coventry says...
11:55am Fri 25 Jan 08
J, Hazlemere says...
1:52pm Fri 25 Jan 08
Lividov, Marlow says...
2:30pm Fri 25 Jan 08
Why? Because that's the law. If you disregard that rule then we may aswell go back to the jungle. It would be better to make clear to those threatening him what the law is and if they are law abiding citizens they will comply.
It's perfectly understandable that emotions are running high in a case like this but the ules are perfectly clear. If you don't like them then see your MP to have the law changed.
Marmite, HW says...
3:51pm Fri 25 Jan 08
Although to be fair to him, it was only horses. They eat them in France.
Steve, Totteridge Hill says...
7:35pm Fri 25 Jan 08
I do like the comment about stocks & horse of the year show though ;-)
Nick Hall, Birmingham says...
11:20pm Fri 25 Jan 08
What if you lot of vigilantes tear him limb from limb and then it turns out you were wrong?
Four other RSPCA prosecutions have failed recently.
Think about it.
British "justice" says you are innocent until proved guilty.
Pierre, HW says...
1:08am Sat 26 Jan 08
Dolly did it!
Becky, High Wycombe says...
6:47pm Sat 26 Jan 08
Nick Hall wrote:Innocent? Call him innocent when he lets all them animals suffer so bad on HIS farm?!? Yes that's HIS farm...You telling me he's too blind to see the state those animals are in? Or does he need extra thick glasses? Get a grip Nick Hall, everyone knows the guy is responsible for all them poor animals...and why did he attack a policeman if he knew he was innocent? Has that occured to anyone?
Has it occurred to any of you that he might be innocent? What if you lot of vigilantes tear him limb from limb and then it turns out you were wrong? Four other RSPCA prosecutions have failed recently. Think about it. British "justice" says you are innocent until proved guilty.
jpeterson, Speen says...
10:23am Fri 1 Feb 08
Bodger, Bourne End says...
7:51am Sun 18 May 08
I am glad the decision was overturned in terms of the 29 equines being returned to him, however, what happened to the other ones, did they go back into the markets for meat!? If so what happened to the money, as one of the comments made by his legal team was that he should not be financially worse off. This case is incredible and I still think of it everyday, still unable to believe that a family could be so cruel. I have read the comments made by Gray's niece, I think she wears the same glasses as her uncle and his family, tunnel vision. Perhaps her definition of kindness and looking after animals is different to most other people. I don't believe for an instant he paid for hay etc. It is all very sad. The RSPCA should have acted sooner. I have stopped donating to them as their values are questionable.
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SL, Bucks says...
9:41am Fri 25 Jan 08