Andrew Davies, 22, was sentenced in October to serve a month in jail after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a protest earlier this year at Darley Oaks Farm which breeds guinea pigs for animal research.
Davies was charged with intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress. Following a national day of protest against the Darley Oaks Farm, Davies went to the home of Darley Oaks Farm employee Simon Turner and shouted at Turner. Videotape played in court showed Turner yelling,
How does it feel, Simon, to be a prisoner in your own home? To have all your neighbors know you abuse animals for a living? You are a disgrace to the human race. People like you should be locked up, strapped down and experimented on.
Davies’ attorney, John Skinner, provided some interesting details about the commitment level of animal rights activists in the UK. Skinner told the court,
My client became involved in animal rights after having worked at a turkey farm at an early age, and being disgusted at the treatment of the animals involved. Effectively, since that age, animal rights has been his entire life and he has committed himself to that. Having committed himself to animal rights, he has attended at least one protest every two weeks and he has protested at Darley Oaks between 50 and 100 times alone.
Skinner told the court that Davies has never held a job for more than six months and apparently hops from job to job at bars to support himself while crusading against animal research..
Davies received a one-month sentence, with half of that served in jail and the other half on the UK equivalent of probation. He also was given an indefinite anti–social behavior order which prohibits him from having contact with any employed by the partners of the Darley Oaks Farm.
Turner told the Burton Mail that he was pleased with the outcome,
IÂ’m pleased with the outcome. ItÂ’s about time they started dishing the jail sentences out.
Source:
Urgent ELP! Bulletin. Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network, October 5, 2004.
New Prisoner Andrew Davies – solidarity now. IndyMedia UK, October 3, 2004.
Jail for animal rights protestor. Kim Briscoe, Burton Mail, October 2, 2004.