Bail tightened in horse cruelty trial (From Bucks Free Press)

Bail tightened in horse cruelty trial

5:23pm Tuesday 17th February 2009 in Search By Alex Hayes

A MAN accused of cruelty to horses has been told he has to turn up earlier for court every day, after failing to attend at all yesterday.

Yesterday the trial of five people accused of cruel treatment of horses on Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, was held up after none of the defendants showed up.

James Gray, who is accused of 12 offences under the Animal Cruelty Act, told Bicester Magistrates Court was being examined by a doctor for depression.

The 46-year-old today had a condition put on his bail meaning he has to arrive at court or make contact with an official by 9.30am.

On Friday he was warned by Judge Andrew Vickers he faced being held in breach of bail if he failed to attend court or turned up late without giving a good reason.

Jodie Gray, his daughter and co-accused, also turned up for the continuation of the trial today after being rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis.

At the trial today the defence counsel started cross-examination of the prosecution's expert witness, Peter Green.

Mike Fullerton, who is representing Mr Gray, questioned Mr Green on how many trials he had been involved in as an RSPCA witness before.

Mr Green told him: “I have taken very few instructions from the RSPCA, and have been involved in very few equine welfare cases.”

In cross-examination Mr Fullerton asked if video evidence given earlier in the trial that the horses were quiet “was not necessarily indicative of depression”.

He also asked if horses “may be quiet by nature”, and pointed out there were “a number of semi feral horses on the farm”.

Mr Green replied: “When semi feral horses are brought in from moors or fields to a new stable they may indeed be quiet.

“It is a totally foreign situation to them.”

Mr Fullerton countered: “A number of strange people in dark uniforms were entering their fields and pens. Might that effect horses vocally?

“In the field we saw horses approaching the person filming the video. Is that not presenting normal horse curiosity and behaviour?”

Mr Green responded: “That one was.”

Five defendants, James Gray, 44, Julie Gray, 41, 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 12 charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

The trial continues.