Anne the elephant mistreated at Bobby Roberts Super Circus

A circus owner has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a performing elephant in Northamptonshire, and failing to provide for her needs.

Bobby Roberts, 69, of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus, was found guilty of mistreating the 58-year-old elephant. His wife Moira, 75, was cleared of the same charges.

Mr Roberts was given a conditional discharge of three years, but received no fine, nor a ban from keeping animals. It could not be proven that his wife Moira owned the elephant and she was therefore acquitted of all charges.

Animal welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) secretly filmed footage of Anne, a performing elephant at Bobby Roberts' Super Circus, which showed Anne being kicked and struck with a pitchfork several times by a groom, while she was at the circus' winter quarters in Northamptonshire.

The use of animals in the circus dates back about 150 years. Before that time, and before the introduction of public zoos, those wanting to see a menagerie of wild animals would head to a fair.

During the 19th Century, animals were taken on tour and shown to the public. Later, they were combined with traditional circus shows. But the link between animals and the circus could soon be at an end, as legislation is being drawn up by the government for a ban on circus animals.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bill to ban wild animals in the circus was a work in progress. Until the ban comes into force, which may not be for several years, Defra is introducing what it says will be a "tough licensing scheme" that it claims will "ensure the welfare of wild animals".