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Anne the elephant abuse case: Bobby Roberts guilty Anne the elephant circus abuse: Bobby Roberts guilty
(35 minutes later)
A circus owner has been found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a performing elephant.A circus owner has been found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a performing elephant.
Bobby Roberts, the 69-year-old boss of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus, was found guilty of mistreating 58-year-old elephant Anne. Bobby Roberts, 69, was found guilty of mistreating 58-year-old elephant Anne and was given a three-year conditional discharge.
Roberts was also convicted of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating the animal.
His wife Moira, 75, was found not guilty of the same charges at Northampton Crown Court.His wife Moira, 75, was found not guilty of the same charges at Northampton Crown Court.
The court had been shown secretly-filmed footage of the animal being struck with a pitchfork by a groom.The court had been shown secretly-filmed footage of the animal being struck with a pitchfork by a groom.
The footage was recorded by welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) between 21 January and 15 February 2011. The video was recorded by welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) between 21 January and 15 February 2011.
It showed the Asian elephant being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by the groom, Nicolai Nitu, at the circus' winter quarters in Polebrook, Northamptonshire. It showed the Asian elephant being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by the groom, Nicolai Nitu, at the Bobby Roberts' Super Circus' winter quarters in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.
Roberts, from Oundle, told the court he would never have condoned the behaviour of Nitu. who is believed to have returned home to Romania. Chained
Roberts, from Oundle, Northamptonshire, told the court he would never have condoned the behaviour of Nitu, who is believed to have returned home to Romania.
He said: "I can't tell you what I would have done. The police would have been involved.
"Still now when I think about it, it goes through me, I just can't believe it."
Roberts also failed to ensure the elephant's needs were met by not giving her medication for her arthritis.
In the footage, the elderly animal could be seen chained by one foot and one hind leg in a barn.
The legs of the elephant could also be seen to buckle several times.
Roberts claimed he was unaware that Anne had been constantly chained and that the groom had not followed his instructions.
He admitted the elephant would be chained up at times but said his instructions were that she be let loose behind an electric fence in a cordoned-off area.
But the court rejected his claims and found him guilty of all charges.