Woman 'Flushed Monkey Down Toilet' And Offered It Cocaine
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***WARNING: CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGES***
A woman has been banned from keeping animals for life after 'flushing a monkey down the toilet' and offering it cocaine.
Vicki Holland, from Newport, Wales, has been handed a 12-week jail term suspended for 12 months and banned from keeping animals for life after police obtained footage of her abusing Milly the marmoset.
A disturbing video from the 38-year-old's phone shows the animal cowering in a toilet which is then flushed, while other clips show the monkey being offered cocaine and scalding food.
When a police warrant was executed, Holland told police she had sold Milly the previous week.
The marmoset was subsequently found at another address and was signed into the care of the RSPCA, before being transferred to specialist primate experts at Monkey World, in Dorset, for ongoing care.
Holland pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences on 18 November and was sentenced at Newport Magistrates' Court on 10 December.
As well as her suspended sentence and animal ban, Holland must pay £420 ($556) in costs and a £128 ($169) victim surcharge.
Speaking after sentencing, RSPCA inspector and exotics officer Sophie Daniels, said: "I was immediately and gravely concerned about the welfare of this marmoset when I saw these disturbing videos.
"Videos from the defendant's phone showed Holland offering the marmoset cocaine, while another showed the clearly terrified marmoset down a toilet bowl.
"Holland was shouting, swearing, laughing and at one point in the clip, the toilet is flushed, showing the petrified animal struggling to cling onto the side of the bowl.
"An independent vet soon confirmed that the marmoset was suffering unnecessarily as a result of the way she had been treated.
"We'd like to thank Gwent Police for their assistance in this case, along with Monkey World who have provided a forever home for the marmoset. Thankfully, this monkey is now getting the care they deserve after such shocking mistreatment."
Dr Angela Cronin, of Monkey World, said Milly had been 'very, very traumatised' when she first arrived, but after mingling with other marmosets she came to life.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: "True to form, as soon as we got her near and around other marmosets, you could see it, it was like a light switch went on.
"She started hearing their calls, calling back to them. And while she was a little bit cautious, as soon as we started socialising her with other marmosets, her behaviour and attitude changed quite a bit."
Indeed, she has also found a close companion in a marmoset called Moon - so at least this sad tale has a happy ending.
