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Four defendants have all avoided immediate custodial sentences after being convicted of Burglary, with sentences ranging from suspended custodial sentences to conditional discharges. Yesterday, following a 7-day trial at Peterborough Crown Court, four defendants were convicted of burglary after deliberation lasting approximately 5 hours. The trial came after they rescued 18 beagle puppies from MBR Acres, a site breeding animals for testing, in December 2022 [1]. This is the t

Defendants (L-R) Ash Faulkner, Ben Thomas, Matilda Dunlop, and Michael Sykes. Second Guilty Verdict For Beagle Puppy Rescuers In Watershed Legal Case After a 7-day trial at Peterborough Crown Court, four defendants have been convicted of burglary after deliberation lasting approximately 5 hours. The trial came after they rescued 18 beagle puppies from MBR Acres, a site breeding animals for testing, in December 2022 [1]. The defendants are due to be sentenced tomorrow morning,

Defendants (From L-R): Alan Guthrie, Louisa Hillwood, Thomas Cusick, and Kat Chan. After a 7-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, four defendants have been unanimously acquitted of burglary after deliberation lasting approximately 2 hours. The trial came after they rescued 18 beagle puppies from MBR Acres, a site breeding animals for testing, in December 2022 [1]. This is the second of four trials in this case, with the first group of five being found guilty of the same offenc

This morning, an open letter signed by Chris Packham, Lush Cosmetics, several law firms, and pro-democracy groups was handed into the Home Office [1]. The open letter, addressed to the Home Secretary, called on her to withdraw a proposed Statutory Instrument that would add the Life Sciences sector to Key National Infrastructure under the Public Order Act 2023 [2]. The Home Office proposal would place animal testing facilities in the same legal category as airports, motorways,

Today, in collaboration with Animal Rising, Dame Joanna Lumley has launched an animation showing conditions inside MBR Acres and the rescue of 18 beagle puppies in 2022. MBR Acres breeds beagles for use in animal testing, primarily toxicology. Earlier this week, five individuals were convicted of burglary in relation to the 2022 rescue [1]. 13 more are due to face charges in the same case across three separate trials in early 2026. Another three are due to stand trial for a

Defendants (L-R): Lewis Elliot, Ben Newman, Hannah Hunt, Nathan McGovern, and Eben Lazarus. After a 12-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, five defendants have been convicted of burglary after deliberation lasting approximately 3 hours. The trial came after they rescued 18 beagle puppies from MBR Acres, a site breeding animals for testing, in December 2022 [1]. This is the first of four trials in this case, with 13 other individuals due to face charges of burglary, including

Claims Regarding Animal Testing In 2024, there were 2.64 million tests carried out on animals in the UK. 54% were experimental, and 2,646 individual experiments were on dogs. [1] A total of 1,651 individual dogs were used in these experiments. 1,317 of the experiments on dogs were repeated-dose toxicity testing, with 31% (408) of those lasting longer than 90 days. [2] 2025 YouGov polling suggested that: [3] 70% of UK adults would support legislation to end medical testing and

Three Animal Rising campaigners have been found guilty of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court today (15/12/25). The charges arose from a peaceful protest, on 8 October 2022, that saw the front of gun and hunting shop William Evans in Central London covered with eco-friendly paint to depict scenes of nature and rewilding. [1] The action called on the UK Government to listen to public opinion and end hunting and shooting for sport, in order to protect wildlife and suppo

A breaking news story: after three successive failures to convict Animal Rising’s Grand National disruptors, the Crown Prosecution Service has today dropped a fourth upcoming Crown Court case, indicating a further two trials are also now likely to be dropped due to the low likelihood of a conviction. Three juries have now refused to convict Grand National protestors who chose to be tried at the Crown Court for public nuisance, after taking action to protect horses’ lives at t

A jury took just 51 minutes to unanimously declare five Animal Rising campaigners who ran onto the tracks of the 2023 Grand National not guilty of public nuisance  at Liverpool Crown Court today (13/11/25). This was the third of a series of five Grand National trials; after this third consecutive failure to convict, the CPS will now review whether the remaining trials will go to court with the next one currently due to start on 1/12/25. Not Guilty: Robert Gordon, Daniel Kidby

Four Animal Rising campaigners accused of public nuisance had their trial end with a hung jury last week (21/10/25) at Liverpool Crown Court. The charges were for their actions at the 2023 Grand National, which delayed the race and caused a media frenzy. [1] Today, (28/10/25) a retrial was scheduled for 30/11/26. In September, a group of six Grand National protestors were found not guilty of the same charge. [2] Last month (24/9/25), a group of six were found not guilty of th

Five Animal Rising campaigners have been sentenced at Bristol Magistrates Court today (23/10/25) after being found guilty of aggravated trespass. Each of them was given a 9-month conditional discharge, ordered to pay £200 compensation to Müller, and a £26 victim surcharge. Additional court costs between them came to £634. They initially had their cases dismissed after a different trial group facing the same charges was dismissed due to lack of evidence, but a successful appea

Nine campaigners charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage entered not guilty pleas at Wolverhampton Crown Court today...

Six Animal Rising campaigners have unanimously been found not guilty of public nuisance at Liverpool Crown Court today (24/9/25) after...

Nine Animal Rising campaigners entered pleas at Liverpool Crown Court today(15/09/29), charged with conspiracy to commit public nuisance...

Today (04/09/25), East Lindsey District Council refused planning permission for a puppy farm in Lincolnshire on animal welfare grounds,...

Six Animal Rising campaigners have been sentenced at Bristol Magistrates Court today (27/6/25) after being found guilty of aggravated...

Three defendants have been found not guilty of public nuisance in Worcester Crown Court, a significant outcome in the sixth trial that...

Daniel Juniper, 30, of Bristol, was found guilty of public nuisance today (13/05/25) at Worcester Crown Court after taking part in Animal...

Nine Animal Rising campaigners have been handed community service orders at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to public...