James
Gray Released from Woodhill Prison
Tuesday 16th June 2009 - Aylesbury Crown Court
James Gray who was jailed last Friday, was released today from Woodhill
Prison near Milton Keynes after serving 4 days of a 6 months sentence
for animal cruelty.
After a short bail hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court today, Judge
Christopher Tyrer heard submissions from Nigel Weller acting for Mr.
Gray, and also from Iain O’Donnell acting for the RSPCA. The judge
described the case as substantial and although the appeal would not take
as long as the original 50 day trial it would last many weeks and would
take some time to prepare for.
James Gray was immediately released from
Woodhill Prison and has
returned home to Spindles Farm, Hyde Heath, where the cruelty took place
by order of Judge Christopher Tyrer, the only condition of his bail is
that Mr. Gray is not to keep or have any dealings with horses. James
Gray was not in court to hear the good news.
Judge Christopher Tyrer said the whole case will have to be heard all
over again, this time with a Judge and Justices. He also said it is not
fair and jurisprudence in this country and Europe, for a person to serve
a sentence before an appeal is heard. District Judge Vickers suspended
all elements of the sentence until after the appeal.
While the case is ongoing, the fate of the animals removed from the farm
is still undecided.
Because James Gray has appealed (and because his prison sentence was a
short one) and the fact that he is likely to only serve half of the 24
week sentence, the law dictated that he had to be released on bail
pending the appeal.
I can assure anyone that might be concerned, that today's event is in no
way a victory for James Gray...it's just a general, legal formality that
no judge had the power to overturn.
Immediately after the sentencing on Friday 12th June 2009 at Aylesbury
Magistrates Court, legal representatives for all 5 lodged appeals
against both convictions and sentences.
An appeal start date has been set for Monday 11th
January 2010 at 10am at Bicester Magistrates Court, sitting as Aylesbury Crown
Court. The appeal is expected to be heard before a special sitting of a
Crown Court judge and two magistrates, and is listed for 5 weeks.
