Two ‘idiotic’ yobs who lobbed bottle at giraffe’s head after breaking into zoo and vandalising enclosures avoid jail

TWO "idiotic" yobs who broke into a zoo and lobbed a bottle at a giraffe's head in a "deplorable" attack have avoided jail.

Nathan Daniels, 21, cut the barbed wire fence at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire to gain entry to the attraction with Bradley Green, 24.

Once inside, the cruel pair damaged the penguin enclosure and left other animals "very distressed".

Sickening footage from the break in showed a bottle being chucked at a giraffe's head.

One giraffe was left with deep gashes to her leg as a "consequence" of the distress.

A tiger was also filmed apparently being encouraged to approach a fence before being kicked at and scared away.

Daniels pleaded guilty to damaging the penguin's enclosure while Green admitted damaging an enclosure containing giraffes and causing animal cruelty.

The pair avoided jail and were instead handed a 12 month community order.

They were also ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay £750 compensation each to the zoo.

The pair broke into the zoo near Eastleigh, Hampshire, in February 2021 when it was closed during the pandemic.

Prosecutor Ellie Fargan told Winchester Crown Court: "During the evening of 15 February damage was caused to enter the enclosed gates of the zoo and further damage to structures within it.

"The intention seemed to be that they wanted the attention of the animals, as items were thrown into their enclosures."

Videos of the pair causing "distress" to the animals were posted on social media by the brazen pair.

Armed police were scrambled to the scene and used night vision goggles and a dog unit to capture Daniels and Green.

Zookeepers later discovered stones, sticks and disinfectant bottles in the tiger and cheetah enclosure.

A disinfectant bottle and a bucket were also found by the giraffes.

Ms Fargan said: "Keepers were of the opinion damage caused to a door with giraffe hair on it in the enclosure was caused by giraffes hitting the door at force when in distress."

The penguins had also been affected by the pair's antics after they chucked a life ring in the pool and cracked the glass door of the gallery.

The prosecutor said the birds were left "anxious, distressed and disturbed" as a result.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Parkes KC said: "Almost two years ago now, you two together had the idiotic idea of driving to Marwell Zoo during the lockdown when it was closed.

"You, Daniels, cut the perimeter fence and got inside illicitly and when you were inside you acted with extraordinary stupidity.

"You caused damage to the inside of the zoo and you caused distress to the animals."

Marwell Zoo opened in 1972 and is home to a number of exotic animals including Southern White Rhinoceros, Amur Leopards, Giant Anteaters and Pygmy hippos.

Jason Huggitt, 24, and 23-year-old Coral Lock were previously cleared of assisting Daniels and Green.