Activists who stole lambs from King Charles III surrendered to police and were sentenced

A woman who, along with two other activists, stole three lambs from King Charles III's Sandringham farm has turned herself in to police to report the crime. The Independent reports this.

Animal activists Rose Sharkey and Sarah Foy, 26, and Rose Patterson, 37, were found guilty of stealing the lambs after a three-day trial at Norwich Crown Court. They stole the animals from Appleton Farm in Norfolk in May 2023 and went to Windsor Castle the next day to publicize their "rescue". When armed guards at the gates of the royal residence refused to talk to them, the women voluntarily went to Windsor police station and surrendered. Judge Anthony Bate sentenced each to 12 months of community service, 150 hours of unpaid work and a fine of 250 pounds sterling (27.8 thousand rubles).

At the trial, the activists insisted that they acted in good conscience, since they were saving lambs from poor living conditions and future slaughter. They argued that the king, being an environmentalist and animal lover, would agree to their rescue.

Prosecutor Dingle Clark called it nonsense, saying the women took something that didn't belong to them and did it to attract attention to their views. The lambs, whom the activists named Sammy, Sunny and Soothy, were never returned to their owner, but, according to the defense, they are alive and in the shelter.