Circus boss and his wife are charged with animal cruelty after secret footage revealed elephant being beaten

The former owners of Britain's last circus elephant are to be prosecuted for animal cruelty, it emerged yesterday.

Moira and Bobby Roberts are charged with causing Anne suffering by chaining her to the floor, failing to prevent her groom from beating her and failing to ensure her needs were met.

Footage apparently showed her being hit with a pitchfork.

Abuse: A worker from the Bobby Roberts Super Circus violently kicks Anne, who suffers with arthritis

Another heartless member of staff wields a large stick used to strike Anne repeatedly on her rear

The 59-year-old elephant – Europe's oldest – is now living in Longleat safari park in Wiltshire after the Daily Mail intervened to find her a new home. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our readers, who donated £340,000, she has the run of an 80-acre enclosure. She also has access to a series of paddocks, meadows and water pools at the park. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next A rescue they will never forget: Baby elephant and its... Share this article Share A private prosecution was originally planned by animal rights group Animal Defenders International. Mail readers donated £340,000 to Anne's fund But yesterday the Crown Prosecution Service announced it had decided there was enough evidence to pursue the case against Mr Roberts, 68, and his wife, 62, itself. It is understood that the case will rely on the footage secretly obtained by ADI and passed to the Mail. The prosecution is believed to be the first of a circus owner for animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Mr and Mrs Roberts will appear at Corby Magistrates' Court in Northamptonshire on Wednesday. Anne was brought over from Sri Lanka in the 1950s and worked for the Bobby Roberts Super Circus, based in Polebrook, Northamptonshire, for 50 years. Yesterday a CPS spokesman said: 'Given the public concern over the case, the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has now agreed that the CPS take over and continue the legal proceedings against the Roberts.' Mrs Roberts yesterday admitted she was under 'strain' due to the announcement.

Moira Roberts, left, and husband Bobby Roberts, right, the former owners of Anne the elephant who have been charged with animal cruelty



She also said she was continuing to hunt Romanian groom Nicolae Nitu, who was filmed attacking Anne and fled the country after the alleged cruelty emerged. She said: 'No one knows where he is. We have people searching for him.'

She added: 'We are shocked and dismayed. We've done nothing wrong. It's been the worst year of our lives.'

Last night Sir Paul McCartney pledged his support to ADI's campaign for a ban on wild animals in circuses, following the news of the prosecution.

He said: 'It is heartbreaking to see these poor animals confined in small cages and carted around the country with little respect for their welfare and well-being.'

Joyful steps: Anne is due to live in a sanctuary at Longleat Safari Park which will built following a high-profile campaign for her freedom that saw Daily Mail readers raise £340,000

