Stourbridge couple found guilty of cruelty to monkey

A couple who sold a sick pet monkey, which had been left "crippled" with fractured bones because of a poor diet, have been found guilty of animal cruelty.

Lee Powell and Julie Jones failed to ensure the four-month-old marmoset, named Mikey, was fed an appropriate diet, Dudley Magistrates Court heard.

The monkey, which was distressed and in pain, had a bone disease caused by a lack of vitamin D3 and calcium and had to be put down by the RSPCA.

Magistrates said the scientific evidence against Powell, aged 50, and Jones, 42, both of Sunderland Drive, Stourbridge, was indisputable.

They were each found guilty of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the marmoset and two of not taking reasonable steps to ensure the animal was fed appropriately or protected from pain, injury or suffering. They were bailed for sentence on January 12.

During the two-day trial the court heard that the couple, who own four other marmosets, had sold Mikey to 60-year-old Sheila Lister, of St John's Road, Essington, near Cannock, on June 15 after they advertised.

They met on a car park in Bilston, where the animal was delivered a hamster cage, together with a diet sheet. On June 19, Mrs Lister went to Wickid Pets, an exotic pets specialist, in Wolverhampton, to get more information about how to keep the monkey but realised something was wrong when she saw other, healthy marmosets.

The animal was found to have seven fractures, including a broken hip and vertebrae.

Veterinary surgeon Hannah Bould told the court yesterday that she had been "appalled" by the condition of the monkey adding: "It was pitiful to watch."

Both Powell and Jones maintained they did not know there was anything wrong with the monkey and said they would have taken it to the vets if they had known.

Magistrate Mrs Jane Rymer said: "What is clear from the evidence is that the animal suffered pain, distress and injury whilst in the care of you two defendants."