RSPCA told "no need" to take animals into care (From Bucks Free Press)

RSPCA told "no need" to take animals into care

5:01pm Monday 15th December 2008

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RSPCA inspectors were told a horse “in need of specialist care” was being treated for “a snuffly nose”, a court heard today.

The animal was one of several that were ordered to be removed from Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, following an inspection in January this year.

But the farm's owner, 45-year-old James Gray, told vet Bob Baskerville there was no need for it to be taken into care.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Skinner told Bicester Magistrates' Court Mr Baskerville said one of the equines “would die if it was left” at the farm.

Mr Baskerville also recommended a number of animals be removed from the farm following examinations – three of which were “in need of specialist care”.

These included an animal referred to in court as animal KH8.

Mr Skinner told the court: “Mr Gray stated there was no need to take animal KH8 at all. He said it had a snuffly nose and he was already treating that.

“Mr Baskerville repeated KH8 should be removed. Mr Gray then said, 'You are on their side as well'.”

Mr Skinner added Mr Gray's wife Julie, 41, told Mr Baskerville: “You've always had it in for my husband.”

When the RSPCA inspectors left the farm, they told Mrs Gray to ensure the animals were given food and water.

The team returned the next day, and found “good quality hailage” was being provided to animals in one of the fields. Mr Skinner told the court the hay bale was not there the previous day.

He said however a horse was found in the field away from the food supply which upon inspection was found to have a badly infected eye.

He told the court a total of 37 horses were in the field that day and “several were in poor condition”.

On January 4, when the inspectors first visited the farm, 31 carcasses were discovered and 14 animals were removed as they were considered to be suffering or likely to suffer if they were not moved. On January 9, 97 animals were taken away from the farm.

Another carcass was found on January 5, which Mr Skinner told the court “had been there some time”. A further four horses were put down by vets.

Mr Gray said initially the dead horses had died from worms.

Mike Fullerton, representing Mr Gray, asked Mr Skinner if worms can kill an equine. “It's certainly a major contributory factor,” he replied.

He later added he was "not an expert" on horses.

Mr Fullerton asked Mr Skinner if he had asked when the animals had last been wormed. Mr Skinner said he did not.

While being cross-examined, Mr Skinner also said he had not asked when the animals had last been fed and how often they were fed.

Mr Fullerton asked: “Did you consider that might be relevant before you looked round the farm further?”

Mr Skinner replied: “We had grounds to suspect an offence had been committed. Therefore we commenced an investigation.”

He added he considered the questions suggested by Mr Fullerton to be more appropriate in an interview situation “rather than a conversation in a dark, wet yard”.

Five defendants charged with twelve offences under the Animal Cruelty Act were later questioned by police. They all gave no comment interviews.

Mr and Mrs Gray and Cordelia Gray, 20, all of Spindles Farm, Jodie Gray, 26, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons each deny allegations of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the welfare needs of 125 animals.

The trial continues.

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