THE judge in the case of three protesters acquitted of stealing kittens from the Hillgrove cat breeding farm launched a blistering attack on police after the verdicts.

Recorder Christopher Tickle told Oxford Crown Court it did not take Sherlock Holmes to see that a forensic examination of the defendants' clothing should have been carried out.

Jonathan Coode, prosecuting, said: "Sadly we appear not to have had the services of Mr Holmes."

Mr Tickle said: "You have my disappointment at the way the case was prepared in the light of the apparent importance of the case to the police and in the light of the amount of money, time and energy that has been extended in policing the farm over a matter of months."

He asked for his comments to be passed to the police.

Kevin Hickey, 25, of Coventry, was jailed for 12 months after being found guilty of handling a cat called Margaret stolen from the farm at Minster Lovell, near Witney, owned by farmer Christopher Brown during a demonstration in January last year. Nicola Maddocks, 24, of Hastings, was cleared of handling a stolen cat. Earlier, Maddocks, Hickey and Bryan Shiel, 28, of Bristol, were acquitted of burglary.

The court heard Hickey was already serving a six-month jail sentence after he threw rocks at a mobile home on a Northamptonshire farm while people were inside.

His barrister, Sadaqat Kadri, said this was also related to an animal rights protest. He said Hickey now realised violent protest was counterproductive and he was pursuing more practical ways of helping animals.

Mr Tickle told Hickey his offence had to be taken in the context of the attack on Hillgrove Farm.

He said: "The farm was trashed. It is somewhat ironic of course the fact that the animals that were rescued as a result of these activities were seriously affected."

He added that Margaret the cat was 'petrified' following the incident.

He told Hickey he respected his beliefs but could not uphold violent methods of pursuing those beliefs.

Supporters of the three shouted as they left the court: "That's absolutely disgraceful. It's Christopher Brown that's the criminal."

Heather James, spokesman for Campaign to Save the Hillgrove Cats, said: "In the light of the evidence that has emerged during the trial, we will be taking out a private prosecution against Christopher Brown for cruelty to animals under the Protection of Animals Act 1911."

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