Circus elephant abuse sentence disappointing, says ADI
The owner of a circus has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering after allowing an elephant he owned to be struck by a member of staff.
Bobby Roberts, aged 69, was found guilty of mistreating 58-year-old elephant Anne and was given a three-year conditional discharge at Northampton Crown Court.
A secret recording of the abuse, which showed the elephant being hit with a pitchfork, was shown in court.
Jan Creamer, from Animals Defenders International, the group which filmed the abuse, said the sentence was disappointing.
23 Nov 2012
- From the section UK