Man sentenced for trying to sell monkey heads and animal porn on eBay

George Bush, from Erith, admits four charges related to auction site, including listing other items such as leopard skulls

George Bush tried to sell monkey heads on eBay (Met Police)

A man who tried to sell body parts of endangered monkeys on eBay and had animal porn has been sentenced to 14 months in jail, suspended for two years.

George Bush, 63, of Riverdale Road, Erith, admitted four charges related to the auction site at Woolwich Crown Court, which included listing more than 130 items such as leopard skulls and monkey heads and hands.

He also admitted having 71 extreme pornographic images in the bestiality category.

The court heard Bush was arrested on suspicion of selling illegally imported protected species by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Wildlife Crime Unit after information was received from the UK Border Force in January last year.

Detective Constable Sarah Bailey, of the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit, said: "This case shows that strong controls are in place to protect endangered species and the police will take action against anyone found to be trading illegally.

"Illegal trade threatens many species' survival. I would urge anyone who sees specimens from protected wildlife for sale to contact police. We are committed to ensuring that anyone in London who is trading illegally in endangered animal parts is stopped."


 One of the monkey heads found among George Bush's collection
 (Met Police)

The court heard the Wildlife Crime Unit was also able to identify the illegal supplier in Java, Indonesia, who was dealt with by local police.

Grant Miller, Border Force CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) lead, said: "As the variety of species involved in this case shows, the illegal movement of endangered wildlife is part of an illicit and often cruel trade that Border Force, together with our partners in the UK and internationally, is determined to stop.

"Those illegally trading in wildlife products should be in no doubt - we will target you at the UK border and beyond."

A confiscation hearing is due to take place in April 2016.

Press Association