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19/01/2006
Pete Burns' 'Gorilla coat' seized from BB house
Police have seized a coat, allegedly made from gorilla fur, from 'Celebrity Big Brother' contestant Pete Burns.
Officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary seized the coat from the Big Brother house, following complaints from viewers of the Channel 4 show.
The Dead or Alive frontman had claimed on the show that his coat was made from gorilla fur, which is illegal in the UK without a permit.
Last week, Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight warned Burns that he could face going to jail, if the coat was made from genuine gorilla skin.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: "Following a number of complaints from members of the public regarding a coat taken into the Big Brother house by Pete Burns, the coat in question has been handed across to police officers from Herts Constabulary."
The spokesperson said that the coat would now be tested to determine its origin.
A spokesperson for 'Celebrity Big Brother' confirmed that the coat has been passed to police and said that Burns was aware of the situation.
The move has been welcomed by animal welfare charity WWF.
David Cowdrey, Head of WWF-UK's Wildlife Trade Campaign said: "This sets a clear example that wearing endangered species is totally unacceptable, and that the only way we can hope to stop the illegal trade in endangered species is to make sure that people don't wear them as fashion accessories.
Mr Cowdrey added: "It is very unlikely that this coat is made from gorilla skin, it is more likely to be made from colobus monkeys. However the fact that Mr Burns was prepared to wear something allegedly made from gorilla is unacceptable and shows a complete disregard for the plight of endangered species."
(KMcA)
Officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary seized the coat from the Big Brother house, following complaints from viewers of the Channel 4 show.
The Dead or Alive frontman had claimed on the show that his coat was made from gorilla fur, which is illegal in the UK without a permit.
Last week, Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight warned Burns that he could face going to jail, if the coat was made from genuine gorilla skin.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: "Following a number of complaints from members of the public regarding a coat taken into the Big Brother house by Pete Burns, the coat in question has been handed across to police officers from Herts Constabulary."
The spokesperson said that the coat would now be tested to determine its origin.
A spokesperson for 'Celebrity Big Brother' confirmed that the coat has been passed to police and said that Burns was aware of the situation.
The move has been welcomed by animal welfare charity WWF.
David Cowdrey, Head of WWF-UK's Wildlife Trade Campaign said: "This sets a clear example that wearing endangered species is totally unacceptable, and that the only way we can hope to stop the illegal trade in endangered species is to make sure that people don't wear them as fashion accessories.
Mr Cowdrey added: "It is very unlikely that this coat is made from gorilla skin, it is more likely to be made from colobus monkeys. However the fact that Mr Burns was prepared to wear something allegedly made from gorilla is unacceptable and shows a complete disregard for the plight of endangered species."
(KMcA)
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