Furious neighbours confronted Pets Corner CEO after his lavish fireworks display allegedly caused a horse to bolt into a fence and suffer catastrophic injuries.
Deafening explosions echoed across the countryside and thick smoke drifted above Dean Richmond’s £4million mansion as dozens of fireworks lit up the night sky during his Guy Fawkes celebration on Saturday.
But after angry villagers complained, Mr Richmond, 52, had to make a grovelling apology.
The fireworks event, hosted at his Grade-II listed, seven-bedroom home in West Sussex, was a continuation of a tradition the CEO was brought up with, for friends, family and neighbours to enjoy, according to a Pets Corner company statement.
In his apology, he said: ‘It was never my intention to cause inconvenience or distress to anyone in the village.’
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He said he had notified nearby neighbours, but now, in hindsight, realises he should have spread the message further.
According to Mr Richmond, the display was carried out by a professional fireworks company and was carefully planned to minimise disruption and protect wildlife.
One resident branded the CEO ‘a selfish idiot’ while others hit out at the ‘hypocrisy’ of the businessman, whose company boasts of being the UK’s leading ethical pet retailer by putting pets first for more than 55 years.
Pets Corner is a large chain of pet stores that specialises in natural nutrition and advice, offering high-quality, natural pet food and other products.
Just days before the party, the company posted online guidance warning owners to keep animals calm during firework season – the post on social media has since been removed.
Allegedly, for one poor horse nearby, it had bolted from a neighbouring paddock in terror before suffering ‘catastrophic’ injuries after crashing into a fence.
Shortly after the fireworks began, the animal was reportedly found collapsed in its field and had to be put down by a vet.
In his statement, Mr Richmond, who grew up with horse-riding, said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear that a horse may have been injured and subsequently put to sleep.
‘This is truly distressing news, and I am in direct contact with the owners.’
One local described how her rescue dog was terrified by the ‘powerful and loud explosions that left their ‘windows and doors shaking.’
An unnamed local said she went to confront the CEO about the chaos caused by his fireworks display.
She claimed he dismissed her concerns and ‘laughed’ in her face.
In his statement, Mr Richmond wanted ‘to make it absolutely clear that this is untrue. I took her statements seriously and was sorry to learn she was upset.’
Mr Richmond moved into his property after splitting with his wife Karen, last October, in a £100million divorce battle, revealed by the Daily Mail.
He is now dating model Sarah Louise Wiffen, 38, who posted on Instagram photos of the sky filled with fireworks during the estate’s display.
Some angry neighbours are using this display as an example of why firework sales should be limited to those running local council-approved events – the petition has more than 150,000 signatures.
Should fireworks be restricted to local-council approved events only?
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Yes
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No
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