After her pet Marmoset, a mother of four, was discovered in a bowl filled with toilet water by her husband, he is now facing prison for animal cruelty.
Vicki Holland, 37, who lives in Newport, South Wales, left the primate inside a toilet bowl and was aggressive, making it ‘terrified’ of her, a court heard.
Holland, who was rumbled earlier this year when police raided her home and found cocaine hidden in her children’s Kinder Eggs, has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at her semi-detached home.
Vicki Holland (37), a Newport resident, is currently in jail for animal cruelty. Her pet Marmoset, which she called ‘terrified,’ was discovered inside a bowl of a toilet, according to a court.
Marmoset monkeys (pictured) are not considered illegal in the UK. However, animal rights organizations have launched campaigns to ban primate ownership.
Newport Crown heard that the animal was “terrified due to her aggression, abuse while it was inside a toilet box”.
Although the sentence was rescheduled for further reports, a judge assured her that she would consider all possibilities including imprisonment.
The UK does not consider Marmoset monkeys to be illegal, however animal rights organizations are trying to end primate ownership.
Marmosets can live as long as 18 years in tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
Martin Fidler Jones is RSPCA Cymru’s campaigns manager. He stated: “Primates are intelligent and complex animals that require a special environment. They aren’t suitable for pets, no matter how well-intentioned their owners may be.
“We are worried about whether or not there is an increasing problem with primates like marmosets being kept in Wales as pets.
“We feel it is time for the Welsh Government’s to take action and demand an absolute ban on primates being kept or traded in Wales as pets.
Holland previously appeared in court in May this year where she was ordered to pay more than £4,000 over a hidden cocaine haul found in Kinder eggs.
When police searched her home, they found drugs in the plastic bags of chocolate sweets.
Holland, along with Russell Cox her partner, was there when officers burst into the Newport, South Wales front door.
When conducting the house search, police found drug paraphernalia and Kinder Eggs containing £1,600 worth of cocaine. Holland and Cox
Holland, (pictured right and left) and Cox (42) both admitted to possessing with intent the supply of a class A drug at Newport Crown Court
Police found drug paraphernalia and Kinder Eggs containing £1,600 worth of cocaine.
Holland, 43 and Cox, 43 both admitted possessing with intent to sell a class A drug at Newport Crown Court
Scott Bowen, Holland’s defense attorney, claimed that Holland accepted she was involved in the matter and that it was quite stupid.
“Her greatest fear is the fate of her young children, if she was sent to prison.”
Cox from Cwmbran in south Wales was imprisoned for thirty months. Holland was placed behind bars for twenty months. Holland was released on November 31st.
A Proceeds of Crime hearing was told the couple made almost £40,000 from their cocaine business.
Cox made £31,904.46 from drug dealing but was left with just £180 which can be seized in available assets.
The judge ordered her to repay the money in three months, or she would face three months imprisonment.