http://www.walk-wales.org.uk/ashraf.

htm RSPCA CRITICISED (cutting from Gloucester Citizen) The RSPCA has been criticised after a judge threw out a case against Wing Commander Afzal Ashraf who was accused of neglecting his polo ponies. In April the 43-year-old was convicted at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court of causing unnecessary suffering to two Argentinian polo ponies after allegedly leaving them to starve in a water-logged field. He was fined 2,000 and ordered to pay 7,000 costs. But last week at Gloucester Crown Court Judge James Meston QC upheld Ashraf's appeal and overturned the conviction. Now vet Colin Vogel, who gave evidence at both hearings, has called for the RSPCA to be regulated to prevent innocent animal owners being affected by "unjustified" legal proceedings. Mr Vogel, who has specialised in the care of horses for 32 years, said: "The first RSPCA vet failed to carry out a detailed test of both Mr Ashraf's ponies when he arrived at the field where they were being kept. "Instead they were taken to a nearby RSPCA centre and not properly examined until two days later by a second RSPCA vet. "Any potential problems would have been severely exacerbated during the two-day gap and thereby giving a false and more exaggerated impression of their condition." An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "The RSPCA receives a call for help every 19 seconds. Only one in 2,000 calls results in a prosecution. "It is a court of law, not the RSPCA, that convicts and sentences those responsible for cruelty to animals. The RSPCA investigates and presents the evidence. "People are only ever taken to court as a last resort and to prevent further animal suffering. "Almost every prosecution is supported by independent veterinary evidence. "Prosecutions are never taken lightly. It is notable that 97 per cent of RSPCA prosecutions last year resulted in convictions. The RSPCA finds no joy in taking people to court. Every conviction represents animal suffering that the society has been unable to prevent. "In the case of Wing Commander Ashraf, the appeal judge found the RSPCA had acted in good faith in bringing the prosecution." The two ponies Clarita and Chirola were kept in rented fields in Shaw Green Lane, Prestbury. Wing Cmdr Ashraf is a former Great Britain international polo player and Captain of the Combined Services Polo Team. He said after winning the appeal, he said: "I have always been, and always will be, incapable of causing cruelty to any animal."/cutting ends. ********************************************************************* POLO PLAYER WINS APPEAL Top polo player Wing Commander Afzal Ashraf has won his appeal against convictions for causing suffering to two ponies. The 43-year-old, who gave up playing his beloved sport because of the case, said: "I'm looking forward to getting back on to the pitch and putting this all behind me." Wing Cmdr Ashraf, an international polo player, was fined 2,000 for allegedly leaving his ponies to starve in a water-logged field at Prestbury, Cheltenham. He was also ordered by Cheltenham magistrates in April to pay 7,000 costs after being convicted of the offences. But Gloucester Crown Court heard a fuller defence case on behalf of Wing Cmdr Ashraf, of Lower Farm, Brockhampton Lane. Michael Hubbard QC, defending, said: "To the untrained eye these horses looked like they were in a very poor state. "But we are dealing with polo ponies here which are kept in pretty lean condition at the best of times." The court heard Wing Cmdr Ashraf had been away for a week on RAF business at the time of the alleged suffering of the ponies. He left his wife in charge of feeding the horses. Severe rain concerned Mrs Ashraf who rang her husband and he made plans to move the horses into a stable. Then Mrs Ashraf received a phone call that the RSPCA was seizing the horses. An expert veterinary witness said the two Argentinian ponies had tested positive to a rare stomach-dwelling parasite that had caused their condition to deteriorate during Wing Cmdr Ashraf's absence. Wing Cmdr Ashraf said: "On February 16, I agreed to meet these RSPCA inspectors. I was cautioned and told that vets had found my horses to be emaciated'. This is the most extreme form of thinness imaginable. It's equivalent to a

concentration camp inmate." The court heard that Wing Cmdr Ashraf's vet, Louise Harvey, had confirmed the horses were in "good condition" when she inspected them shortly before the RSPCA became involved. Judge James Meston QC, sitting with two magistrates, upheld the appeal and ordered that Wing Cmdr Ashraf's costs be paid. He said: "We do not consider the prosecution has proved Mr Ashraf caused intentional suffering to his horses." After the case Wing Cmdr Ashraf said: "I'm relieved that finally I've been vindicated. I've been forced to sell my house and two of my three ponies below the market price as well as my horse box in order to pay for my appeal. "I have always been and will always be incapable of causing cruelty to not just my own animals but to any animal. This has been a matter of honour and principle and one to which I have gone to the greatest lengths to prove my innocence./Cutting ends