Blood on their hands?
RSPCA blamed for horse owner’s death after accusing him of cruelty in court
THE RSPCA was accused of having ‘ blood on its hands’ yesterday after a horse owner killed himself while on trial for alleged cruelty to his animals.
Stephen Parkin, 56, who was part of a carriage driving family that had taken part in events across the country for three generations, was accused of 13 charges over his treatment of some of the horses in his care.
A week into his trial he hanged himself in a barn at the Hertfordshire farm where he lived with four others, all facing similar charges.
He is said to have left a suicide note blaming the ‘pressure of the RSPCA case’. It is the latest in a string of controversial prosecu- tions by the charity. Mr Parkin’s family accused the prosecution of being ‘aggressive’ and claim many allegations were unjustified.
But the RSPCA told the trial some of the animals on the farm were living in ‘atrocious’ condi- tions. The charity raided the rambling White House Farm in Redbourn, where Mr Parkin lived with the other defendants, in 2014.
Eight horses and a goat were put down, while 50 dogs, three horses and a cat were rescued. During last week’s trial at St Albans Magistrates’ Court, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall said the visit came after a member of public raised concerns about a horse in a barn.
The charity, which brought the charges as a private prosecution, claims a number of horses were unwell, had overgrown hooves, and were in waterlogged stables lacking clean water, food and dry bedding.
Goats, also allegedly with overgrown hooves, were found in a nearby barn that was like a ‘swamp’ at the back. Dozens of dogs and a cat were living in a kennel together.
But sources say the defence, which had not yet given its version of events, will dispute that any animals needed to be put down.
One said: ‘Every single animal was well fed and had good body weight. All had normal vital signs. Some of the barns had fallen into disrepair but new stables were being built.’
The charges Mr Parkin faced included failing to ensure a horse received appropriate foot care and failing to provide a suitable environment. Co-defendant Pat Smith, 59, whose parents took in Mr Parkin as a child and who saw him as a brother, accused the RSPCA of having ‘appalling methods’, adding: ‘RSPCA officers have driven him to this.’
After Mr Parkin’s body was found on Tuesday, friends paid tribute on Facebook, describing him as ‘a lovely man’. Another accused the RSPCA of ‘lacking compassion’, adding: ‘Blood is on their hands.’
The other defendants were Mr Smith, his brother and sister-in-law Eddie and Julie Smith, 63 and 60, and family friend Michael Morley, 38.
The case was halted after Mr Parkin’s death but yesterday District Judge Carolyn Mellanby ruled it should continue later this year. Mr Parkin’s lawyer Nigel Weller criticised the charity’s decision to carry on, saying it was ‘without any compassion ... or moral foundation’.
The RSPCA said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by Mr Parkin’s death, adding: ‘The judge has ruled there is still a case to answer in respect of the four remaining defendants and it is appropriate in these circumstances for the case to proceed. We refute any suggestion that our inspectors acted anything less than in a totally professional manner.’
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