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Animal rights activist jailed
Tuesday 8pm ANIMAL rights activist Lewis Pogson has been jailed for three years after he raided a local rabbit farm which supplied animals to the research company Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Pogson had denied he was among a group of protestors who forced their way into a shed where animals were kept, causing 70,000 damage but he was convicted after a trial.
Lincoln Crown Court heard that intruders stole 129 New Zealand White Rabbits from Highgate Farm, Normanby By Spital, in January 2008. Pogson's alleged accomplices have never been traced.
Pogson (23) of Dulwich, South East London, denied charges of blackmail, criminal damage, theft, and interfering with a contractual relationship on January 7, 2008 but he was convicted late last year.
Passing sentence Judge Ebrahim Mooncey told Pogson, a member of the protest group, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), that 'acts of extraordinary vandalism' had been carried out at the farm.
These included daubing slogans and threats on walls, slashing farmer Jeffrey Douglas's Lamborghini tyres, covering the vehicle with paint stripper and pumping expandable foam inside the car's exhaust system.
Peter Lownds. defending, said Pogson was convicted of a single incident at the rabbit farm and he did not have a history as a persistent offender.
Mr Lownds said the defendant appeared to be 'mellowing' in his views on direct action and he has been described as a 'gentle, kind, and decent man'.
Mr Douglas said the attacks had forced him to consider shutting his business down and he had lost months of trade as a result.
Detective Sergeant Mark Blackburn of Gainsborough CID said it was important to remember the vast majority of animal rights campaigners in the UK only ever act peacefully.
"Since these offences were committed there have been a number of peaceful demonstrations at the farm. Lincolnshire Police continue to work hard to ensure people can exercise their democratic rights and protest lawfully despite the unlawful activities of a few," he said.
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Weather for Market Rasen
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
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