A JUDGE is expected to deliver his verdict on Monday on a family charged with animal neglect at an Oxfordshire sanctuary. Yesterday District Judge Tim Pattinson retired after Bicester Magistrates’ Court heard closing speeches on behalf of the eight defendants.

Angela Russell, 44, her father Frederick Russell, 82, her brother Peter Russell, 40, her children Robert, Louise and Kirsty Russell, 25, 22 and 20, all of Faringdon Road, Longworth, deny 16 counts of animal welfare offences relating to Crunchy’s Animal Rescue, in Longworth.

Her niece, Abigail McHugh, 20, of Pendennis Road, Swindon, and Angela Russell’s carer, Daniel Bunyan, 24, of The Court, Abingdon, have also pleaded not guilty to all charges.

When the trial began in April, the court heard RSPCA officials raided the sanctuary in January last year and described it as the worst they had ever seen.

They allegedly found horses, ponies, dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks, chickens, pigs and turkeys living in mud and their own faeces and urine, with little or no food or clean water.

The case is set to resume on Monday.