Statement concerning tragic incident in Hertfordshire

The RSPCA was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Stephen Parkin.

Mr Parkin was one of five defendants in a case which has resulted from a large investigation that began in Redbourn, Hertfordshire in 2014. After concerned calls from members of the public, we visited a farm and found a significant number of horses, dogs and other animals being kept in extremely poor conditions, many in a terrible state of neglect.

After careful examination of the evidence, a decision was made to initiate a prosecution case against five defendants because the level of neglect we found was so serious.

There are clearly very tragic circumstances surrounding this matter. However, the judge has ruled that in light of the evidence there is still a case to answer in respect of the four remaining defendants and said that it is right in these circumstances for the case to proceed.