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| Arrest after 32 dead horses found | Arrest after 32 dead horses found |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A man has been arrested following the discovery of 32 dead horses along with scores of neglected ponies and donkeys. | A man has been arrested following the discovery of 32 dead horses along with scores of neglected ponies and donkeys. |
| James Gray, 44, was detained after the animals were found at a site in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. | James Gray, 44, was detained after the animals were found at a site in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. |
| Mr Gray, of Amersham, was charged with criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. Police would not confirm how he was connected to the operation. | Mr Gray, of Amersham, was charged with criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. Police would not confirm how he was connected to the operation. |
| Three other animals had to be put down at the site on Friday. Mr Gray is due before magistrates on Monday. | Three other animals had to be put down at the site on Friday. Mr Gray is due before magistrates on Monday. |
| On Wednesday RSPCA staff and vets described the scene as the worst they had ever encountered, one saying it was "utterly horrific". | On Wednesday RSPCA staff and vets described the scene as the worst they had ever encountered, one saying it was "utterly horrific". |
| The other 80 animals at the site have been transferred to horse sanctuaries. | The other 80 animals at the site have been transferred to horse sanctuaries. |
| They were fully tethered and unable to move and deprived of food and water Horse Trust spokeswoman RSPCA | They were fully tethered and unable to move and deprived of food and water Horse Trust spokeswoman RSPCA |
| RSPCA officers described how dozens of dead horses had been piled up against fences. | RSPCA officers described how dozens of dead horses had been piled up against fences. |
| Rob Skinner, from the RSPCA, said: "I've seen some very gruesome things in the RSPCA in my time, but this is a very serious case. | Rob Skinner, from the RSPCA, said: "I've seen some very gruesome things in the RSPCA in my time, but this is a very serious case. |
| "For this number of equines and the conditions the animals were kept in, it's a very bad case." | "For this number of equines and the conditions the animals were kept in, it's a very bad case." |
| The RSPCA said the owner of the farm had been investigated by its inspectors before, and that a tip-off from a member of the public had led officers to the site. | The RSPCA said the owner of the farm had been investigated by its inspectors before, and that a tip-off from a member of the public had led officers to the site. |
| The Horse Trust is looking after many of the worst affected animals at The Home of Rest for Horses sanctuary in Speen in Buckinghamshire, where they are being tested for disease. | |
| 'Grossly emaciated' | 'Grossly emaciated' |
| Among them are ten young colts and geldings, a blind dun mare and three donkeys including a six-month-old foal. | Among them are ten young colts and geldings, a blind dun mare and three donkeys including a six-month-old foal. |
| Some were described as "grossly emaciated" and found tied up in small pens, while others have suffered with overgrown feet but are currently too scared to be treated by the farrier. | Some were described as "grossly emaciated" and found tied up in small pens, while others have suffered with overgrown feet but are currently too scared to be treated by the farrier. |
| A spokeswoman for the charity said: "They were apparently standing in their own excrement and standing next to and on top of other dead animals. | A spokeswoman for the charity said: "They were apparently standing in their own excrement and standing next to and on top of other dead animals. |
| "They were fully tethered and unable to move and deprived of food and water." | "They were fully tethered and unable to move and deprived of food and water." |
| A spokeswoman for the Norfolk-based Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which has been helping with the rescue, said it had rarely seen horses in such a poor condition. | A spokeswoman for the Norfolk-based Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which has been helping with the rescue, said it had rarely seen horses in such a poor condition. |