The appeal against the sentencing of James Gray and his family was rejected on Wednesday the 12th of May at Aylesbury Crown Court. All sentencing was upheld, with Gray receiving a a lifetime ban from keeping horses, a 26 week prison sentence (sadly the maximum allowed for such an offence) and instructed to pay £400,000 costs. The other four family members had minimum disqualification periods from keeping equines increased from five years to seven.

The sentencing Judge, Judge Tyrer said: What the court has been listening to is a horrendous case of animal cruelty. It is the worst case ever experienced by the RSPCA. In our judgment, this was animal cruelty on a scale that beggars belief.

The trial transcripts of the extent of the cruelty are in this DOCUMENT, and make grim reading.

There is however a twist in the tale, as James Gray has elected not to face his punishment, and has disappeared, with the police now forced to issue a warrant for his arrest as the defending lawyer admitted to having no idea where his client was.
If you see him phone Thames Valley Police urgently on 08458 505 505 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Image taken from Bucks Free Press

We will continue to fight for the animals left to suffer at the hands of people like James Gray. The EU welfare laws are not strong enough to protect equines at the bottom end of the market.
Please support us in our work to monitor and change the situation at markets where dealers like James Gray ply their trade in misery and degradation.