Bobby Roberts' Circus, Crown takes over Cruelty Prosecution of Mr & Mrs Roberts

Bobby & Moira Roberts ( Roberts Circus, Peterborough) former owners of Anne the Elephant (aged 58) facing CPS cruelty charges before Corby Magistrates in Northamptonshire, on 16 November.

Anne the 58 year old Elephant moved to a place of safety
at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire

 Two circus owners Bobby  & Moira Roberts have been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an elephant.

The elderly elephant Anne was moved to 'a place of safety' at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. The legal action was originally brought by Animal Defenders International which investigated the elephant's welfare at Bobby Roberts' circus in Peterborough. 

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had now taken over the prosecution of both husband and wife Bobby and Moira Roberts, who run the circus who have Winter animal sheds near Peterborough.

Mr and Mrs Bobby Roberts will appear before Corby Magistrates in Northamptonshire, on 16 November.

Bobby and Moira Roberts  are charged with keeping the 58-year-old elephant chained to the ground at all times. They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne. The beating was captured on CCTV set up by Animal Defenders International and widely shown on the Internet.  The elephant Anne was brought from Sri Lanka to The Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s. (In addition to live circus animal performances, the Roberts family also hire out live animals for film and tv productions)

A CPS spokesman said: "Given the public concern over the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has now agreed that the Crown takes over and continue the legal proceedings against Bobby and Moira Roberts."

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