Amersham Press Release from the Self-Help Group against RSPCA

reynold

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 August 2007
Messages
1,669
Visit site
Taken from warmwell.com
includes a previous email from a niece of Jamie Gray

interesting viewpoint if perhaps not what we want to hear...

return to warmwell.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All twenty nine donkeys and Shetland ponies which the RSPCA seized must be returned to the Grays, as the court ordered, “forthwith”
(The email below from Jamie Gray's niece pulls no punches in its criticism of RSPCA)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others experiencing
difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)

Press Release
For Immediate Release
7th April 2008

EQUINE LAWYERS HAIL AN HISTORIC VICTORY AGAINST RSPCA

ALL SPINDLES FARM “RESCUE” HORSES TO BE RETURNED OR SOLD

The action for the return of his horses brought by James (“Jamie”) Gray
against the RSPCA has taken a dramatic turn.

All twenty nine donkeys and Shetland ponies which the RSPCA seized must
be returned to the Grays, as the court ordered, “forthwith”.

The remaining ninety-six animals, including some valuable thoroughbreds,
will, as Mr Gray’s lawyers requested, be sold at auction.

Commenting on the court’s findings, Anne Kasica of the SHG said:

“Despite the case having been made a “cause celebre” by the RSPCA’s Head
of Media, Henry Macaulay, the RSPCA faces yet another public relations
disaster following Judge Sandeep Kainth’s ruling on Friday in Oxford.”

“This is an enormously positive ruling. It shows that the RSPCA’s whole
approach to welfare cases is wrong - it will not accept advice from
independent vets, for fear that they might say something it doesn’t want
to hear.”

“The RSPCA prefers to take its aggressive courses of action, no matter
how unreasonable and wasteful they might be, just as long as they
increase the pressure on defendants.”

“Let us hope that this result will force the RSPCA to reconsider its
belligerent approach to cruelty cases.”

Referring to the claim by Kirsty Hampton of the RSPCA that they had
intended to ‘seek new owners’ for these horses before trial, Ms. Kasica
went on to say:

“This is laughable. The RSPCA only “seek new owners” when they have a
court order for confiscation following a successful criminal prosecution
- so they can ‘rehome’ expensive animals with ‘acceptable’ people for a
substantial ‘donation’ and then try to recover huge boarding costs from
the defendants.”

“As a result of the RSPCA’s refusal to deliver up any of Mr. Gray’s
animals the RSPCA faces another huge costs bill from its own lawyers – a
specialist firm instructed privately to present the RSPCA’s case.”

“And yet the RSPCA accepted that all of the donkeys and ponies which
have been ordered back were in "good condition” and claimed that they
were seized, not because of their condition, but because of “concerns
about Mr Gray and his family”.”

“As to the remainder, there was, the judge rightly ruled, “no evidence
to show they were in any danger" and that a sale at auction was a
respectable, and traditional, way for horses to change ownership.”

“The idea of a sale in this case never arose until Mr Gray’s
application, and then the RSPCA resisted it. The RSPCA’s idea was to
ensure that Mr Gray never got any money for his investment in the
horses, and that he should face a massive costs bill.”

“Kirsty Hampton is well-known to us. She has been involved in
considerable controversy and was responsible for making serious and
untrue allegations of cruelty against Mr and Mrs David Burden.”

“In their case, the RSPCA organised a meeting of witnesses, at which the
RSPCA ghosted a report which was later claimed to have been written by
an ‘independent expert’ in sheep. Ms Hampton was present at that
meeting, and her case against the sheep farmers was thrown out.”

Ernest Vine, also of the SHG, said:

“There are countless defendants who are experiencing massive
high-profile seizures by the RSPCA, who are very aggressive and threaten
massive costs orders against them, whilst engaging in a huge media
campaign to increase the pressure still further.”

“For those still awaiting a private prosecution for cruelty by the
RSPCA, which usually takes six months to emerge, this must be very
heartening news.”

“Only this week David and Margaret Heading have had over a hundred
cattle seized from them by the RSPCA from East Farm in Thetford.”

“Their animals were transported to ‘a place of safety’ by the RSPCA and
I understand that, as with Jamie Gray’s case, the RSPCA have not yet
suggested their sale.”

Mr. Vine concluded:

“The court in Mr. Grey’s case may have been persuaded to make the order
by the fact that the RSPCA claimed to have spent an incredible £153,000
boarding his animals so far.”

“Evidence given during the hearing by independent equine specialist vet
John Parker contrasted starkly with the RSPCA’s highly prejudicial
press-releases.”

“Mr. Parker stated that none of the horses, donkeys and ponies had been
"caused unnecessary suffering”, although some animals had arrived at Mr
Gray’s farm “from a semi-feral origin”. He found the bedding and general
condition of the farm to be of an "extremely good quality." And when
asked if he believed any animals would be at risk of cruelty if they
were returned, Mr Parker simply said "No".”

“The RSPCA is now under severe pressure to withdraw its private
prosecution against the Grays who face allegations of animal cruelty.
They are due before Oxford Magistrates on 28 April 2008.”

The RSPCA is believed to be considering an appeal against Judge Kainth’s
ruling.


Ends

Word Total: 798



Notes to Editors: -

1. The result is another landmark victory for Jacqui Fulton, of Blythe
Liggins, who has represented Mr Gray and his family throughout

2. The RSPCA spends 44% of its annual income of over £100,000,000 (one
hundred million pounds) on its prosecutions department.

3. In the light of Judge Kainth’s findings, the RSPCA, which claims to
apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors, will have to satisfy Sally Case,
Head of Prosecutions, that it has considered whether each of the
allegations stands “a reasonable prospect of success” and is “in the
public interest”.

4. The RSPCA is a private body so there is no mechanism to challenge the
decision which Ms Case reaches.

5. Mr. Gray’s animals had been placed with organisations such as the
International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and Redwings,
with whom the RSPCA has a special relationship and with whom it worked
on the raids which it conducted against Mr Gray.

6. Many of Mr Gray’s animals were seized on advice from “independent
expert” Nic de Brauwere, who is Head of Welfare at Redwings. Mr de
Brauwere claims to have been on hundreds of “unannounced visits” with
the RSPCA. He was severely criticised by District Judge Philip Browning,
when the RSPCA’s private prosecution against Gina and Martin Griffin was
thrown out in Norwich.

7. Launching the RSPCA’s usual attack on judges who have found against
them, Kirsty Hampton, who was responsible for the raids, said:

“The decision to return the horses to the Grays is devastating. We had
hoped that the court would ask us to seek new owners for them who were
guaranteed to provide for their future welfare. An open sale to an
unknown bidder means that we cannot be sure of the level of future care
they will receive.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An email received January 15 2008 maintains that the RSPCA is far from what the public tend to perceive.
"The RSPCA is corrupt. Those horrible people have told so many lies it's unreal.
My uncle is Jamie Gray, the man accused of animal cruelty recently in the press. I'm sure you must have heard about the case.

Here's just a little info to show how corrupt the RSPCA, and certain other Animal Welfare Organisations, are.

My uncle has all his vets' reports for his animals - receipts for the stacks of haylage he has delivered on a regular basis.

My uncle makes every effort to ensure that the wellbeing of his animals is second to none. An independent vet gave very good reports after vetting the animals, but the RSPCA officer in charge of the case wasn't happy with that so she had an RSPCA vet also check them. Apparently, this is "the worse case of animal cruelty he has seen in his 30 years as a vet". If this was the case then he must have been walking around with his eyes closed for the past 30 years.

I'm no expert but even I could see those animals were not neglected.

The RSPCA and other welfare organizations involved in this case have all seen the food on site - alone with fresh water and clean dry bedding. But they chose to leave this out of their speeches to the press.

The family has been hounded by the press - the very press who have published cruel, wicked lies about them. Their children can no longer go to school, and my aunt can't go to her local shops. Their entire village think they are guilty - and some of the villagers have too made up lies. Their phone is constantly ringing with either the press hounding them to say something or people calling and spouting abuse.

I understand the anger the public are expressing concerning the farm in Amersham, Buckenhamshire. However, the public have not been told the truth. The RSPCA and other AWO's, are lying through thier teeth, as are the villagers, who my uncle will most certainly want to see in court. He loves his animals and there is no way he would do what he is being accused of. One of the horses that was taken away was one my uncle actually rescued himself just a week before the RSPCA came in to his farm. But the RSPCA have not mentioned this although they have been made very aware of it.

All of his animals were checked by the vet just days before the RSPCA moved in.
They told the press that 30+ dead animals were found piled up against a fence. That is mammoth lie on its own.

I seriously do not know how these people sleep at night.
There are just too many lies reported in the press for me to mention.

These people should never be allowed to do this to innocent people. They are meant to be concerned about the welfare of animals not targeting good people who are animal lovers.

In the past I have made donations to the RSPCA, but NEVER AGAIN. Not after witnessing the kind of organization it actually is.

The public are donating millions of pounds to the RSPCA, yet don't actually know the facts about it. The RSPCA needs to be exposed for the corrupt organization that it is.

Instead of spending the donations of the good hearted public, in targeting innocent animals lovers, they should be using those resources to help the thousands of poor animals who truly do need their help. I'm sure there are some good officers on the ground who are trying to do a good job but sadly, none were in charge when the RSPCA entered my uncle's farm. It would seem that those officers trying to do a good job are a minority within the organization.

Thank you.

Charmaine.
 

jacks_mum

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 March 2006
Messages
17,503
Location
Somewhere else
Visit site
quote:
Instead of spending the donations of the good hearted public, in targeting innocent animals lovers, they should be using those resources to help the thousands of poor animals who truly do need their help. I'm sure there are some good officers on the ground who are trying to do a good job

Can't argue with that statement at all.
 

EMWSanctuaries

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 July 2006
Messages
199
Location
Herefordshire and Powys
www.equinemarketwatch.org.uk
[ QUOTE ]
An independent vet gave very good reports after vetting the animals, but the RSPCA officer in charge of the case wasn't happy with that so she had an RSPCA vet also check them. .

[/ QUOTE ]
but was that vetting before or after bedding was brought in and feed given by attending welfare? It all seems very confusing indeed.
 

brighteyes

Pooh-Bah
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
13,013
Location
Well north of Watford
Visit site
I wonder if the real truth will ever come out about conditions there. I have to say if that is really Charmaine's letter and she really is his niece she is a very eloquent and articulate campaigner for her uncle.

If the letter is also factually correct, then there should be some very serious questions asked; not least of which who singled out Mr Gray and why................
confused.gif
 

Tia

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 January 2004
Messages
26,100
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
Apparently, this is "the worse case of animal cruelty he has seen in his 30 years as a vet". If this was the case then he must have been walking around with his eyes closed for the past 30 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the photos I saw of the horses, I would agree! Those horses certainly needed nourishment and building back up again but they weren't anywhere near the worst looking horses I have ever seen either.

Nicely put together letter, Charmaine.
 

AlexThe Arab

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 November 2002
Messages
392
Location
East Anglia
Visit site
Is there any proof that dead horses were indeed at Mr Grays premises?

I always thought it was strange that the remains of over 30 dead horses were alleged to be laying around the farm but the RSPCA couldn't act any sooner than it did.
confused.gif
 
Joined
2 February 2008
Messages
23
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
Is there any proof that dead horses were indeed at Mr Grays premises?

I always thought it was strange that the remains of over 30 dead horses were alleged to be laying around the farm but the RSPCA couldn't act any sooner than it did.
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

It wasn't that they couldn't act - simply that the horses weren't known about as they were hidden. It was only when a fence panel blew down that a villager saw them and called the RSPCA. The terrible thing is that two days previously we'd been for a walk with our children and as we walked past his gates the smell was so atrocious that my 3 year old vomited in the road - we didn't realise at the time but it was obviously all those poor horses decaying. And yes, they were at his premises - I saw them being taken away.

And personally, I don't believe that email is from JG's niece, it just doesn't ring true to me as a neighbour of his for the past few years. For instance, it says his children can no longer go to school - but they have never gone to school anyway!! It just doesn't ring true to me at all. She says 'their whole village thinks they are guilty' but that's not because of the press - we've all thought it for years. Lots of us have seen his attitude towards animals for many years (which he seems to have passed down to his children judging from their behaviour - constantly in the village on their pony and trap whipping the poor thing mercilessly) so didn't need this 'rescue' to tell us what appalling conditions they were kept in - and his abusive/threatening nature hasn't helped endear him to the locals. Several of us have phoned the RSPCA many times - I've done it myself twice in the past few years. So it's not a 'one off' or just following negative press attention as she seems to think, it's from us all seeing him mistreat his animals for years, coupled with his swearing and aggression that we've all witnessed on many occasions.
 

Rikki

Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
10
Visit site
I feel sick. My view is that the RSPCA do not act in this way (neither do the animal charities involved) unless there are serious concerns. I don't care what these defence lawyers who stand to earn a lot of money say. Of course they support the defendant - that's their job. I am certain no major rescue of this type would have happened without cause. Whatever any of you are saying about the RSPCA, as a true animal lover I support all they do - this country is full of people who have no respect for animals and without the RSPCA and other animal charities many animals would suffer the most terrible neglect and abuse. No email in support of Mr. Gray, however articulate and well-meaning changes my mind - there is no smoke without fire. Something is wrong of that I am certain - and it's not the actions of the rescuers.
 

Rikki

Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
10
Visit site
Somebody has to listen to people like 'children and dogs'who have seen first hand how unpleasant this person is and how he treats his animals.
 

RoyalPolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 February 2008
Messages
259
Visit site
Surely pictures were taken of the dead animals and conditions etc they had lived in ready to be shown in court? As i thought you had to collect evidence so surely this should have been enough?

Also how can his niece say he loves his horses etc when he sends them abroad for horse meat?
 

JM07

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 February 2007
Messages
7,545
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]

Also how can his niece say he loves his horses etc when he sends them abroad for horse meat?

[/ QUOTE ]



does he??

do you have proof of that???


live horse export for slaughter is illegal in this country....
 

AlexThe Arab

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 November 2002
Messages
392
Location
East Anglia
Visit site
I wasn't defending or criticising anyone but simply wondered if there were dead animals on the farm. I seem to remember the RSPCA, at the time of the rescue operation, saying that they had been monitoring animal welfare on the farm for some time - yet no pictures of dead animals were shown, which appeared unusual.
I thought most animal welfare (TV) news stories showed distressing images to make an impact i.e. the Foot and Mouth culled cows or the dead poultry during the Bird Flu outbreak?

[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't that they couldn't act - simply that the horses weren't known about as they were hidden.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, as you your self state, that it was well known that things were badly amiss at the farm,

[ QUOTE ]
Several of us have phoned the RSPCA many times - I've done it myself twice in the past few years.

[/ QUOTE ]

This situation must be frustrating to all those who are working so hard to try and improve animal welfare
confused.gif
 

M_G

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 November 2002
Messages
4,473
Location
Nr Peterborough
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Also how can his niece say he loves his horses etc when he sends them abroad for horse meat?

[/ QUOTE ]



does he??

do you have proof of that???


live horse export for slaughter is illegal in this country....

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooer I didn't know that JM7 although I am happy that our horses are slaughtered in the UK I would like it to be the same way for sheep and cattle..

This case is so confusing but I really cant see any court sending back animals to this man if the press reports are truthful
 
Joined
2 February 2008
Messages
23
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't that they couldn't act - simply that the horses weren't known about as they were hidden.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, as you your self state, that it was well known that things were badly amiss at the farm,

[ QUOTE ]
Several of us have phoned the RSPCA many times - I've done it myself twice in the past few years.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, I should have put that clearer - I meant that the dead horses were hidden away, not all the other ones. Nobody in the village had any idea that things had got that bad and that there were dead horses lying around.
frown.gif
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
WOW!!

Charmaine, I know everything you say in your email is true!!

Keep it up I KNOW your uncle is innocent.
smile.gif
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
An independent vet gave very good reports after vetting the animals, but the RSPCA officer in charge of the case wasn't happy with that so she had an RSPCA vet also check them. .

[/ QUOTE ]
but was that vetting before or after bedding was brought in and feed given by attending welfare? It all seems very confusing indeed.

[/ QUOTE ]

But did the attending welfare take in feed and bedding? Also, even if they did (which they didn't) would this result in a vet giving good health reports to so-called severly emaciated animals ? I think NOT!
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if the real truth will ever come out about conditions there. I have to say if that is really Charmaine's letter and she really is his niece she is a very eloquent and articulate campaigner for her uncle.

If the letter is also factually correct, then there should be some very serious questions asked; not least of which who singled out Mr Gray and why................
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Every word that woman Charmaine is saying in that email is true.
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Apparently, this is "the worse case of animal cruelty he has seen in his 30 years as a vet". If this was the case then he must have been walking around with his eyes closed for the past 30 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the photos I saw of the horses, I would agree! Those horses certainly needed nourishment and building back up again but they weren't anywhere near the worst looking horses I have ever seen either.

Nicely put together letter, Charmaine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of the horses did need nourishment and building back up again but they weren't anywhere near the worst looking horses I have ever seen either. I agree.
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
Is there any proof that dead horses were indeed at Mr Grays premises?

I always thought it was strange that the remains of over 30 dead horses were alleged to be laying around the farm but the RSPCA couldn't act any sooner than it did.
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree!!

So C'mon peeps so us the pics.
confused.gif
 

Natch

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 November 2007
Messages
11,616
Visit site
myjack you of all people must want that man to have an unbiassed fair trial to prove his innocence as you believe he is. You must have read admin's pinned post, so please stop provoking. pretty please?
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is there any proof that dead horses were indeed at Mr Grays premises?

I always thought it was strange that the remains of over 30 dead horses were alleged to be laying around the farm but the RSPCA couldn't act any sooner than it did.
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't that they couldn't act - simply that the horses weren't known about as they were hidden. It was only when a fence panel blew down that a villager saw them and called the RSPCA.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really?? Had not the RSPCA been into the farm just days before? Also, RSPCA reported that a member of the public saw a dead horse in one of the fields and then reported it to them.....so which is it? Did a fence panel blow down to reveal 30 something decaying equines piled up against a fence OR did a member of the public see a dead horse in a field?


[ QUOTE ]
The terrible thing is that two days previously we'd been for a walk with our children and as we walked past his gates the smell was so atrocious that my 3 year old vomited in the road - we didn't realise at the time but it was obviously all those poor horses decaying. And yes, they were at his premises - I saw them being taken away.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you were IN the YARD behind the large gates and operation lorries when the so-called decaying animals were taken away were you? Little ol YOU was in were not even the media were permitted to go? Umm, I don't think so.
smirk.gif


[ QUOTE ]
And personally, I don't believe that email is from JG's niece, it just doesn't ring true to me as a neighbour of his for the past few years. For instance, it says his children can no longer go to school - but they have never gone to school anyway!!

[/ QUOTE ]

FACT - 2 of the children went to great missenden then one of the children left there to go to the misbourne. They attentended those schools until they were no longer safe to return as from the 9th of January 2008. And another youth was home tutored paid for by the Grays - The tutor was a Mrs Sargent who lives in the village and has done so for many years. Throughout her tutoring of this child she took photos of this child with his pets - some of which the grays have owned for a number of years. She made christmas cards from these photos she took.



[ QUOTE ]
It just doesn't ring true to me at all. She says 'their whole village thinks they are guilty' but that's not because of the press - we've all thought it for years. Lots of us have seen his attitude towards animals for many years (which he seems to have passed down to his children judging from their behaviour - constantly in the village on their pony and trap whipping the poor thing mercilessly) so didn't need this 'rescue' to tell us what appalling conditions they were kept in - and his abusive/threatening nature hasn't helped endear him to the locals. Several of us have phoned the RSPCA many times - I've done it myself twice in the past few years. So it's not a 'one off' or just following negative press attention as she seems to think, it's from us all seeing him mistreat his animals for years, coupled with his swearing and aggression that we've all witnessed on many occasions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well if what you say is true then just what kind of animal lover are you? If I was you and saw what you say you have seen throughout the years then I cound not have rested. I would have pestered the RSPCA every bl**dy day that I had air to breath. I would have taken photos etc...There is NO WAY on this earth that I could have just contacted the RSPCA just twice. I would not have rested until something was done. Great animal lover you are. NOT!. I'm affraid to say that I would have hounded the RSPCA so much they would have paid a visit just to SHUT me up. NO WAY would I have been able to rest. Absolutely NO WAY.
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
I feel sick. My view is that the RSPCA do not act in this way (neither do the animal charities involved) unless there are serious concerns.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that was just my view - ONCE UPON A TIME.



[ QUOTE ]
thatthese defence lawyers who stand to earn a lot of money say. Of course they support the defendant - that's their job. I am certain no major rescue of this type would have happened without cause. Whatever any of you are saying about the RSPCA, as a true animal lover I support all they do -

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a huge animal lover and have supported them manytimes in the past. BUT I will never support them again - not as long as I have breath in my body. BTW, do you not believe the lawyers defending the RSPCA are earning a packet. Maybe one day YOU will be put in the frame innocently - I hope not but if you ever are maybe you will then learn not all is all it's cracked up to be.


[ QUOTE ]

this country is full of people who have no respect for animals

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree.

[ QUOTE ]
and without the RSPCA and other animal charities many animals would suffer the most terrible neglect and abuse. [ QUOTE ]


Sadly many people are suffering on the recieving end of the rspca's prosecutions - of which they spend 44% of their 100 mil a year in donations on. I'm by no means saying all these prosecutions are as I believe the Grays to be...there are many sickos in this world who neglect and hurt poor innocent animals such people certainly DO deserve to be on the recieving end.


[ QUOTE ]

No email in support of Mr. Gray, however articulate and well-meaning changes my mind - there is no smoke without fire. Something is wrong of that I am certain - and it's not the actions of the rescuers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Try applying that phrase NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE to the judge ruling of returning 28 animals after hearing EVIDENCE from BOTH parties.
 

myjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 January 2008
Messages
933
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
Somebody has to listen to people like 'children and dogs'who have seen first hand how unpleasant this person is and how he treats his animals.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe you should testify against him if this is your view.
 

Natch

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 November 2007
Messages
11,616
Visit site
Myjack I have no choice than to believe that you are deliberately stirring and I am going to press that little button now.
 
Top