Former huntmaster vows to fight Hunting Act charges

 

Jonathon Seed

Five members of the Avon Vale Hunt, including a Wiltshire councillor, have appeared in court charged with breaching the Hunting Act 2004.

Joshua Charlesworth, 18, from East Tytherton; Benjamin Pethers, 28, from Hoopers Pool, Southwick; Stuart Radbourne, 28, from The Common, Bromham; Paul Tylee-Hinder, 58, of Quemerford, Calne and Jonathon Seed, 54, of Chittoe Heath, Bromham all denied the breach when they appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Tuesday.

Four of them denied an additional charge of intefering with a badger sett, though Mr Radbourne, one of the joint hunt masters, indicated a guilty plea to that charge.

 The case has been brought by the RSPCA and refers to incidents alleged to have taken place on March 6 this year at Stockley Hollow, near Calne.

The bench heard that the case could not proceed on Tuesday so it has been adjourned until November 9 when a date for the trial will be set. The five all appeared on summons so the question of bail did not arise.

Mr Seed, Wiltshire councillor for Summerham and Seend and a former hunt master, said he intended to fight the allegation against him.

In a statement outside court he said: “This is a private prosecution by the RSPCA and I believe that is has been commenced for political reasons as their stance against hunting is well known and it is of great significance that Wiltshire Police, after advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, declined to take this case forward.

“In my opinion these proceedings are an abuse of the private prosecution system which needs to be addressed in due course. I totally deny the allegations of any offence against the Hunting Act and there is simply no evidence of either myself or any of the other defendants or anyone else being involved in any illegal hunting on the day in question.”

 News Link:-http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9948094.Former_huntmaster_vows_to_fight_Hunting_Act_charges/

 

Anne Investigation – Trial Update

Posted: 19 June 2012. Updated: 19 June 2012

Following a fifth hearing for legal arguments today at Kettering Magistrates Court, District Judge Chinnery ruled that the trial of Bobby and Moira Roberts is to proceed, but delayed until November. The charges relate to video recordings of beatings of Anne the elephant, taken by Animal Defenders International (ADI) investigators at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus winter quarters in Polebrook, in January and February 2011.

Mr and Mrs Roberts have been jointly charged with the following offences, to which they pleaded not guilty at the preliminary hearing of the case on 1 December 2011:

1. Causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily, by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

2. Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant, by repeatedly beating it, contrary to section 4(2) of the same Act.

3. Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9 of the same Act.

Following a two-day hearing this week at Corby and Kettering Magistrates Courts, held under reporting restrictions, it was announced today that the case would proceed.

Tim Phillips, Campaign Director ADI: “We are delighted that Anne’s owners will finally face trial over the evidence we provided. This is the first test of the intention of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006, which was that owners can be held responsible for what happens to their animals. The investigation and case have been a daunting financial commitment for ADI, but this is an important case that will affect animals in years to come. We are delighted that it is now proceeding and hope there will be no further delays.“

The private prosecution was commenced by ADI on 18th July 2011 at Northampton Magistrates Court. In November, the CPS took over prosecuting the case.

Find out more.
Donate now to help ADI campaign against the use of animals in circuses.
News Link:–http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2697&ssi=10

Owners of Anne the circus elephant go on trial for animal cruelty

The Northamptonshire owners of a circus elephant called Anne are to go on trial charged with causing unnecessary suffering.

Bobby and Moira Roberts will go on trial at Corby Magistrates’ Court.

The couple are accused of keeping Anne, a 58-year-old elephant brought from Sri Lanka to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s, chained to the ground at all times.

They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne.

The pair, of Brook Farm, Oundle, deny causing the elephant unnecessary suffering, failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the elephant’s needs were met.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) took over the prosecution of Mr and Mrs Roberts from Animal Defenders International (ADI) “given the public concern over the case”.

The charges, brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, were originally the focus of a private prosecution by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a worldwide animal welfare organisation, following its undercover investigation and filming between January 21 and February 15.

But ADI’s legal representatives contacted the CPS, asking it to take over the prosecution, and Jan Creamer, ADI’s chief executive, has called it a landmark test case.

Arthritic Anne is now living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire to see out her days in a 13-acre paddock, with her owners’ consent.

The trial is listed until Friday and will move to Kettering Magistrates’ Court from Tuesday on wards.

News Link:-http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/owners-of-anne-the-circus-elephant-go-on-trial-for-animal-cruelty-1-3963225

 

Uploaded by PETAEurope on 29 Mar 2011

Footage taken inside Bobby Roberts Super Circus shows shocking abuse to Annie, the UK’s oldest and only remaining circus elephant.

Footage courtesy of Animal Defenders International (ADI) for more information visit: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2075&s…

Two charged with pig cruelty

Two former Essex slaughterhouse workers are to be charged with animal cruelty after footage appeared to show pigs being attacked. 

Piotr Andrzej Wasiuta, 29, from Southend, will appear in court accused of stubbing out a lighted cigarette on the snout of one of the animals at Orchard Farm, in Brentwood.

Kelly Smith, 40, from Benfleet, is facing prosecution for striking a pig with a baton, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Simon Clements, of the CPS, said he had advised the Food Standards Agency that there was sufficient prospect for conviction after footage was obtained by the animal rights group, Animal Aid, in March and April last year. Both are accused of offences while working for Cheale Meats.

Andrzej Wasiuta faces three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a pig by applying a lighted cigarette to its snout, while Smith faces four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a pig.

Referring to Smith, Mr Clements said: “Two of the charges relate to failing to ensure that a lame pig was not humanely slaughtered immediately and two of the charges relate to striking a pig with a baton.”

He added: “This decision was taken in accordance with the code for Crown Prosecutors.

“After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case.”

Both will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 18

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