Circus owner guilty of suffering caused to elephant

A British circus owner has been given a three year conditional discharge for causing unnecessary suffering to an elderly elephant.

Bobby Roberts from Northamptonshire kept the animal chained to the ground and failed to stop an employee from beating her.

For three and half weeks a hidden camera filmed Anne, an elderly circus elephant, being repeatedly struck with a pitch fork and kicked.

It was the groom who beat the chained animal, but the man in court was her owner - Bobby Roberts.

He was found guilty of three charges under the Animal Welfare Act and given a three year conditonal discharge after failing to properly train and supervise his staff.