Charlotte Orr found guilty of animal cruelty against rats

Charlotte Orr today (Tuesday, March 11) faced prosecution before County Durham and Darlington magistrates, sitting at Peterlee, under the Animal Welfare Act, of 2006.

She was said to have been the subject of a previous disqualification from owning or keeping animals.

The ban was made following a past prosecution, at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, in June 2014.

(Image: The Northern Echo) Peterlee Magistrates' Court

The new charges she faced today included one stating that on dates on or before October 12 in 2023, at Greenlee Garth, in Newton Aycliffe, she did not take steps to ensure the needs of a host of various pet rodents and tropical fish.

These included three guppy-type fish, three goldfish, one loach fish and a catfish, as well as 11 domestic pet rats.

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She was also said to have been in breach of the previous disqualification by owning those pets in the first place.

In a case heard in her absence, as she did not appear at court for the hearing, the 33-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, was found guilty by the magistrates.

Proceedings were adjourned pending a sentencing hearing before the bench, who will be sitting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court, next month.