Trudy was caught on tape being beaten in an undercover circus investigation In a widely publicised court case, Mary Chipperfield and her husband Roger Cawley – part of the famous Chipperfield circus dynasty - were found guilty on 12 charges of cruelty to animals. The case had been brought to court by Animal Defenders, following an undercover investigation. Cawley – a government zoo inspector – was filmed beating a screaming Trudy with a riding crop and both defendants were seen kicking her. Trudy’s ordeal provided a landmark in the campaign against animal circuses. It offered cast-iron and high-profile evidence of the type of cruelty that animal protection organisations had always insisted was routine. 27 November: Later that day we go to the shed where Trudy, the chimpanzee, is kept. Mary is trying to put her in her box but she is screaming and won't go in. Mary begins to hit her. She strikes her across the body and face with her hand and kicks her in the back. Still she will not go in. Mary drags the chimp out of the cage by one arm and picks up a riding crop and begins beating the tiny animal. Trudy finally goes in and Mary hugs her, saying she is a good girl. But when she tries to get her in the box again Trudy refuses and Mary begins to thrash her. As Mary leaves, Trudy is sobbing. Mary calls her a cow and says: 'Yeah, you can bloody cry.' 30 November: We hear screaming from the chimp shed. Trudy is getting another beating. We switch on the camera and go in on the pretext of asking Mary a question. Mary is shouting at Trudy and beating her with a riding crop. Mary chases Trudy around the cage, lashing at her and calling her an 'idiot'. Trudy tries to grab the ball she uses as her comfort, but Mary says: 'You're not having that. from undercover investigation -"Guardian Unlimited"' Back to Photo Gallery