This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/6077270.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Owner denies 'monkey suffering' | Owner denies 'monkey suffering' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Police officers seized a baby monkey at a motorway service station after its owner had advertised it for sale for £4,000, a Swansea court has heard. | |
Jason Allen, 33, from West Cross in the city drove to the rendezvous in June 2005 believing he was meeting a buyer for the black capped capuchin. | Jason Allen, 33, from West Cross in the city drove to the rendezvous in June 2005 believing he was meeting a buyer for the black capped capuchin. |
Instead, it was seized and he was arrested. | Instead, it was seized and he was arrested. |
He denies causing unnecessary suffering to the baby monkey by forcing its separation from its mother. | He denies causing unnecessary suffering to the baby monkey by forcing its separation from its mother. |
A judge sitting at Swansea magistrates court heard that the RSPCA spotted an advert for the baby monkey in a publication called Cage and Aviary Birds Weekly in April last year. | |
Andrew Shipp, of the RSPCA prosecution unit, said the animal was also advertised on the internet. | Andrew Shipp, of the RSPCA prosecution unit, said the animal was also advertised on the internet. |
He telephoned Mr Allen to find out more and on "the advice of experts in the field" believed if they were separated it would cause mother and baby stress. | |
Back garden | Back garden |
He told Mr Allen that his wife already owned two adult capuchins and that he wanted to buy the baby from him. | He told Mr Allen that his wife already owned two adult capuchins and that he wanted to buy the baby from him. |
It was originally advertised for £4,000 but Mr Shipp had agreed to pay £3,200. | It was originally advertised for £4,000 but Mr Shipp had agreed to pay £3,200. |
A meeting was set up at the Leigh Delamere service station on the M4 in Wiltshire on 3 June 2005. | A meeting was set up at the Leigh Delamere service station on the M4 in Wiltshire on 3 June 2005. |
Police were on hand to seize the monkey, which was subsequenlty reunited with its parents. | Police were on hand to seize the monkey, which was subsequenlty reunited with its parents. |
The court heard Mr Allen, who had a dangerous wild animals licence, had owned the parents for about 18 months and kept them in his back garden. | The court heard Mr Allen, who had a dangerous wild animals licence, had owned the parents for about 18 months and kept them in his back garden. |
In police interview, he said the baby was born on 27 January 2005 and claimed he was selling it because it was being rejected by its parents. | In police interview, he said the baby was born on 27 January 2005 and claimed he was selling it because it was being rejected by its parents. |
The case is listed for four days. | The case is listed for four days. |