Anna Ryder Richardson In Court To Deny Wildlife Park Health And Safety Breaches

Celeb Wildlife Park Owner Denies Health And Safety Breaches

A TV presenter turned wildlife park owner who denies breaching health and safety at the animal attraction is back before a court on Monday.

Celebrity interior designer Anna Ryder Richardson, 48, is accused of serious breaches which sent a mother and son to hospital.

She appeared with husband Colin MacDougall, 46, at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court last month where each denied two separate alleged breaches

The couple own and jointly run the Manor House Wildlife Park, in St Florence, near Tenby, west Wales.

Their jointly owned company, Manor House Wildlife Park Ltd, also denies two breaches to health and safety legislation.

Ryder Richardson sobbed silently to herself as details of the case against her were set out during her last court appearance.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction of the case then. They meet today to set a date for the couple's first crown court appearance.

The decision was made after hearing how a heavy branch fell on Gruff Davies-Hughes during strong winds while visiting the park.

The three-year-old spent three days fighting for his life in intensive care after being urgently airlifted to hospital.

PE teacher mother Emma Davies-Hughes, 28, suffered a head injury and fractures to her leg, pelvis, and arm.

The mother and son, from Llanelli, were among dozens of people visiting the attraction's wallaby enclosure in August 2010.

Mother-of-two Ryder Richardson made her name alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on the BBC's popular makeover show Changing Rooms.

In 2008 she gave up her TV career and bought the dilapidated 52-acre zoo come wildlife park with her husband.

The prosecution is being brought by the public protection division of Pembrokeshire County Council.

The couple are expected to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court last this year.

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