JAIL SENTENCES FOR GYPSIES JIMMY PRICE, SAMUEL POWELL AND DANNY PRICE IN MAIDSTONE

Jimmy Price, born 2 September 1994, residing at Forstal Farm, Well Street, Loose ME15 0QE, along with Samuel 'Johnny' Powell, born circa 1985, of Wheat Gratten Stableyards, Forstal Road, Lenham ME17 2BF, and Danny Price, born around 1990, of Victoria Stables, Victoria Court, East Farleigh ME15 0BW, were convicted of serious animal cruelty offences in Maidstone.

Jimmy Price and Samuel Powell, both known for previous offenses, received prison sentences following their latest acts of animal abuse. Price was filmed repeatedly stabbing a deer, while Powell had forced an eight-month-old foal into work. Jimmy Price was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse and two dogs.

Additionally, Danny Price, a qualified jockey and brother of Jimmy Price, was convicted of neglecting a horse to death by starvation but was only given a community order, with no ban on owning animals.

In March 2019, during an RSPCA raid on Forstal Farm, a bay horse belonging to Danny Price was discovered dead next to a hay bale, having starved. Danny Price admitted to causing suffering to the horse; charges relating to other horses (a bay mare, a black mare, and a piebald mare) were dropped.

The court viewed a distressing video showing Jimmy Price’s dogs, Scout and Tramp, tethered and unfed at his home address. A voice in the video was heard saying: "If they run away good luck to them, I tell you what you’re the wickedest fella I’ve ever seen in my life." Jimmy Price, who has prior convictions for violence, dishonesty, and hare coursing, is also a father of two.

Prosecutor Rowan Morton described the video: "It’s very difficult to even explain the gravity of what the video shows. There are four males with a deer. Jimmy Price is seen stabbing the deer multiple times in the throat while others shout at him to stab it. It’s very graphic and upsetting—there was no doubt that animal suffered significant pain and suffering."

Jimmy Price’s prior convictions include violence, dishonesty, hare coursing, and causing suffering to dogs. When the dogs and the seized horses were cared for by the RSPCA, Scout and Tramp gained 25% and 45% bodyweight respectively.

During the same raid, authorities seized four horses, some emaciated: one with diarrhea, a foal with breathing issues and fleas, and a Shetland Pony with a cut across its nose. Powell claimed to acquire the horses for rehabilitation, stating, "I will buy horses that have not been treated properly. When I get them, I feed, look after, and rehabilitate them before selling for profit. I like to think I sometimes save lives when I buy horses."

Asked about where he sourced his horses, Powell indicated he preferred not to disclose details, citing his gypsy community background: "I don’t want to go into too much detail as I’m from the gypsy community."

In 2019, Powell was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a foal seen pulling a cart at Appleby Horse Fair. On January 10, 2020, Powell was found guilty of four counts related to animal suffering and a fifth for failing to ensure welfare, covering the five horses seized.

Samuel Powell was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail, serving half, and was ordered to pay £5,115. He received a five-year ban from owning horses, which can be appealed after one year.

Danny Price admitted to causing suffering to a bay horse that was found dead due to starvation at the raid; charges related to other horses were dropped. He received a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £1,585.

Regarding sentencing: Jimmy Price was jailed for seven and a half months, with half to be served in custody, and ordered to pay costs and charges totaling £5,115. He also received a five-year ban from owning dogs. Samuel Powell received a 26-week jail sentence, with half to be served, alongside the same financial penalties and a horse ownership ban. Danny Price's community order and unpaid work were meant to address his neglect.