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Anne the elephant circus abuse: 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, 69, was found guilty of mistreating 58-year-old elephant Anne and was given a three-year conditional discharge. Bobby Roberts, 69, was given a three-year conditional discharge for mistreating 58-year-old elephant Anne.
Roberts was also convicted of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating the animal. Roberts was also convicted of failing to prevent groom Nicolai Nitu, who is believed to have returned to Romania, 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 video 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 Bobby Roberts' Super Circus' winter quarters in Polebrook, Northamptonshire. It showed the Asian elephant being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by Nitu at the Bobby Roberts' Super Circus' winter quarters in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.
Chained Legs buckled
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. Roberts, from Oundle, Northamptonshire, told the court he would never have condoned the behaviour of Nitu.
He said: "I can't tell you what I would have done. The police would have been involved.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.""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.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.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.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. Roberts claimed he was unaware Anne had been constantly chained and 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.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.But the court rejected his claims and found him guilty of all charges.
'Lost everything'
District Judge David Chinery told Roberts he accepted Anne's treatment did not represent his normal level of care for animals under his control.
"You are a man who has not previously been convicted of any offence and it is to your credit that you have cared for and managed animals for the greater part of your 70 years without criticism from any quarter," he said.
He said Roberts' offences had been at the lower end of the scale, and he had not personally been cruel to the elephant.
The judge said he regarded the chaining of Anne as serious, but said the real cruelty had been inflicted by the groom.
He did not impose a fine or order Roberts to pay costs.
Explaining his sentence, he said Roberts had an exemplary record of animal husbandry, had suffered enough punishment since his offences came to light, and was unlikely to appear in court again.
"As a result of what has happened your business is effectively at an end. You have lost everything which you have built up over the last five decades. I am told that you have no funds at all," he said.
The judge said it would be "disproportionate" to ban Roberts from keeping animals.
Anne the elephant has been living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire since April 2011.