Guilty of cruelty but not even fined: Circus owner who let Anne the elephant be chained and beaten walks free.
Bobby Roberts found guilty today of three charges of causing unnecessary suffering at Northampton Crown Court
Walks free from court after receiving three year conditional discharge
Wife Moira Roberts was cleared of all charges
Animal rights group said the sentence is 'derisory'
The former owner of Anne the elephant was yesterday found guilty of animal cruelty – but walked free from court without even being fined.
Circus boss Bobby Roberts, 70, was given a conditional discharge for keeping Anne constantly chained in her winter quarters and failing to prevent a groom from beating her with a pitchfork.
His wife Moira, 75, was cleared of the same charges after the judge ruled that she was not an owner of Anne and therefore not responsible for her care. The couple ran Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus where Anne’s ordeal was secretly filmed by animal rights group Animal Defenders International.
Girl who threw puppies into river escapes unpunished
A schoolgirl who was filmed by a friend throwing puppies into a river has escaped punishment by police because she was too young to be charged with cruelty, it was reported.
"Neither the girl nor the parents will be charged. This is outrageous".
Even though animals obviously feel fear and pain, just like humans, sentences for animal abuse do not reflect that. In a lot of instances, horrific animal cruelty is perfectly legal, and even encouraged in some countries!
If these people are getting away with abusing animals than alot of other people are aswell, its not fair and it should be treated very seriously. The law needs to get tougher on these people and teach them a lesson. Please sign. Thank you.
