Woman fined over stolen tortoise
A Devon woman has been fined after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods following the theft of a tortoise taken from Paignton Zoo. Leah Rowlands pleaded guilty on Thursday at Torquay Magistrates Court, to handling the animal after it had been stolen in December last year.
Rowlands, aged 27 of Pembroke Road, Paignton, was fined £70 and ordered to pay £43 costs.
Sammy the tortoise was found in a dog basket at Rowlands’ house in Paignton.
Animal unharmed
He was identified by a microchip fitted into his shell.
The court heard that an investigation was launched when the zoo realised the 1ft-long leopard tortoise was missing on 17 December 2005.
Police received information that one was being kept at Rowlands’ address in Pembroke Road.
They went to her home and recovered the animal, which was unharmed.
The court was told it had been taken there by someone else, and Rowlands later learned it had been stolen but had not informed police.
Defending barrister Philip Miles said: “She accepts that there did come a time when she should have alerted the authorities.”

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/devon/4813724.stm

Published: 2006/03/16 14:27:58 GMT

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