Three animal rights activists are found guilty of stealing three lambs from King Charles’ Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The three defendants—Rose Patterson, Rosa Sharkey and Sarah Foy—are convicted of theft following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.
Across outlets, the activists’ defence centres on their belief that the King would have consented to what they framed as a “rescue” of the animals. Sky News reports they told police they thought the monarch “would have consented to the lambs’ rescue”. Metro and other coverage also describe statements to the effect that the lambs should not be sent to slaughter. Metro further says a third-party van driver, not on trial, took the lambs to a sanctuary after the incident.
The outlets diverge mainly on sentencing detail. The Daily Record reports each receives a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work. Metro indicates the judge, Anthony Bate, considers a community order and unpaid work, with further instructions to probation services and the possibility of later sentencing. The Daily Mail focuses on the individuals involved and the early-morning taking of the lambs from Appleton Farm.
