Mrs Joan Higgins and Mr Mark Higgins

There has been inaccurate media coverage of two sentencing hearings at Trafford Magistrates’ Court on 29 March 2010, relating to Mrs Joan Higgins and Mr Mark Higgins - in particular that Mrs Joan Higgins was convicted of selling a goldfish to an underage person, an offence with which she was not charged and for which she was not sentenced.

The facts of the cases are as follows:

• On 29 March 2010, Mrs Joan Higgins was sentenced for an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal contrary to S.4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was also sentenced for eight further offences under S.1(7) of the Pet Animals Act 1951 relating to the contravention of pet care licence conditions.
  
• The substantive charge against her concerned the unnecessary suffering of a cockatiel, which subsequently had to be put down because of its poor condition. For this offence, plus the remaining offences, Mrs Higgins was given a six month Community Order with a curfew requirement of ten weeks. No fine was imposed, but the defendant was ordered to make a contribution of £1,000 towards prosecution costs.
  
• On the same date her son, Mr Mark Higgins, was also sentenced for the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal - the cockatiel. In addition, he was also sentenced for the offence of selling a goldfish to an underage person (a 14 year old). For these offences, Mr Higgins was given a twelve month Community Order with an unpaid work requirement of 120 hours. No fine was imposed, but the defendant was ordered to make a contribution of £750 towards prosecution costs.

Ends