Suspended Sentences in Landmark Beagle Rescue Case
- Animal Rising Press
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Four of the five defendants convicted of burglary following the rescue of 18 beagle puppies from the MBR Acres breeding facility in December 2022 have today been sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court, bringing the first trial in this landmark legal case to a close.
The case, the first in the UK to test the “Open Rescue” tactic before a jury, has drawn national attention to the use of dogs in animal experimentation and the legal boundaries of direct action taken to prevent animal suffering, and resulted in guilty verdicts for the five campaigners on 16/12/25. [1]
Three of the Animal Rising campaigners were today given prison sentences of 18 months, suspended for 2 years, and each must perform 120hrs community service and pay £860 towards court costs. A fourth defendant was granted a conditional discharge for 18 months, and asked to pay £250 towards court costs.
The remaining fifth defendant will be sentenced following his second trial, for the rescue of a further 5 beagle puppies from the facility in June 2022, which is due to begin on 16/3/26.
A second trial group charged for the same rescue was found not guilty on 12/01/26, and a third group found guilty on 3/02/26. A fourth group is due to stand trial next week on 25/02/26, for their role in the rescue of the puppies. [2]
One of those sentenced today, Nathan McGovern, said:
“While we’re relieved to be spared immediate prison time, we absolutely understand the severity of the sentencing.
"However, our commitment to the beagles, and to phasing out the horrific and unnecessary suffering of animals in laboratories, hasn’t changed.”
"This case has brought attention to the reality of breeding dogs for experimentation. Britain sees itself as a nation of animal lovers, and many people feel deeply uneasy about dogs being used this way.
Whatever happens in the remaining trials, we won’t lose hope or stop working towards a future where compassion replaces cruelty and no animal is forced to suffer for testing.”
During the original trial, jurors heard evidence about the defendants’ beliefs regarding animal testing and conditions at MBR Acres, including concerns about terminal blood testing and the harvesting of biological products from dogs.
The rescue of the puppies prompted widespread public discussion about the ethics and effectiveness of animal experimentation. A petition calling for the closure of MBR Acres and the rehoming of all beagles at the site has gathered over 170,000 signatures. [3]
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About Animal Rising
The group has used a range of civil disobedience and non-violent direct action tactics, including blockading McDonald’s distribution centres in May 2021, blockading dairy industry sites in September 2022, rescuing beagle puppies from the animal testing industry in 2022, delaying the Grand National in 2023, rescuing lambs belonging to King Charles III in May 2023, and carrying out the UK’s largest undercover farm investigation in 2024.
High-quality images and video:
Footage from inside MBR Acres:
All images and videos may be used with credit to Animal Rising for reporting purposes.
Media contact:
Emma (Press Back Office)
+44 1225 29 6691
Notes to Editors:
