29/03/2007

Man jailed for monkey theft

A man has been jailed for 12 months for stealing a rare squirrel monkey from Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey.

Marlon Brown, 23, was part of a group that stole Spongebob, an endangered Bolivian squirrel monkey, from the monkey enclosure at the theme park last July.

He had denied stealing Spongebob but his DNA was found in the cage.

Kingston Crown Court heard how the other monkeys in the enclosure attacked Brown has he entered and his blood was found in the enclosure.

At sentencing, Judge Richard Haworth described the theft as a "cruel offence". He said: "In the event the monkey was recovered, but it was traumatised and still is traumatised. You showed no remorse."

Spongebob was found two days after he was stolen, playing with children in south London, where Brown leaves.

When he was found, Spongebob was returned to Chessington, but was rejected by the other monkeys. He is now at Battersea Zoo in London.

(KMcA/SP)

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