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The clips above are why Stanley Thompson aka 'Sparky' was arrested.
Jollys clown arrested
Sparky the Clown arrested
over protest clash
1 November 2005
SPARKY the circus clown was arrested
after a bust-up with animal rights protesters.
And another circus
worker was arrested for allegedly flicking a cigarette at demonstrators.
Police arrested the two outside Peter Jolly's Circus on Sunday.
Animal protection campaigners, who have been staging protests outside the circus on Chorley Road, Blackrod, say they have faced a campaign of intimidation from the circus.
But circus bosses have denied this, saying the protesters have been "looking for trouble".
On Sunday, Sparky the clown (click on pic right for bigger picture) was arrested and cautioned for a public
order offence in connection with an alleged assault on a female protester
on Thursday. Witnesses say he was wearing his clown costume at the
time of the incident.
A circus workman was arrested and fined £80 after he allegedly flicked a cigarette at a male protester in view of police on Sunday. A spokesman for the circus said the clown had gone out to ask the protesters to stop blocking the entrance to the circus, after initially calling the police.
He said one of the protesters tried to take photographs of the clown and was "sticking a camera in his face".
The clown retaliated by shoving the camera away, which caused the camera to hit the woman in her face.
In the second incident, the circus claims their workman did nothing
more than throw some nuts to the ground in frustration with the protesters.
He had the nuts in his pockets to feed the ponies. (click on pic right for bigger picture)
The spokesman added: "We acknowledge that the protesters have a right to voice their opinion and we respect it, but in the same way the circus has a right to carry on.
"We went out there to ask them to move on, and the protesters behaved in a very difficult manner. These people have an axe to grind."
But Louise Stevenson of Manchester Animal Protection said protesters had faced threatening behaviour all week.
She said she had to call 999 on Sunday because circus people made threats.
"It's just outrageous, but thankfully the police came in time," she said.
She added that the workman was arrested because he flicked a cigarette at a protester in front of the police.
A police spokesman said: "We were called to the circus at around 1.30pm following reports of a disturbance."
"A 28-year-old man from Whitehaven in
Cumbria was arrested and cautioned for common assault, and a 20-year-old
man from Darlington
was arrested for a public order offence and given a Fixed Penalty
Fine."
Link to article
Clown arrested in circus clash
31 October 2005
A CIRCUS clown was arrested after a clash with animal rights protesters.
Stanley Thompson, 28, who performs as Sparky the Clown, became caught up in a row with demonstrators outside Peter Jolly's Circus, currently based in Blackrod, Bolton.
Activists with the Manchester Animal Protection group have targeted the family-run circus over its use of a performing Canadian bear.
When the protesters arrived to hand out leaflets,
there was a row between the 15-strong group and two members of the
circus staff. (click on pic left for bigger picture)
A 34-year-old member of Manchester Animal Protection told police her camera was pushed into her face as she tried to take a photograph of Thompson, who was dressed in his clown's outfit.
She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with a minor injury to her mouth and bruising.
Thompson was arrested and released with a caution after he admitted common assault.
The woman, from Bury, who asked not to be named, told the M.E.N: "He just went for me. I had taken my camera out to take a photograph after the circus staff came out and began to threaten us."
A second man, aged 20, a general member of circus staff, was also arrested and later given an £80 fixed penalty notice after he admitted a public order offence.
Police said he "made an offensive gesture" to a member of the protesting group then flicked a cigarette butt into the gathering of 15.
The circus has attracted fierce criticism throughout its 35-year history for its use of live animals.
Protesters claim they always demonstrate peacefully.
But police have been called to deal with disturbances three times as the demonstrators have handed out leaflets before shows in Blackrod and Middleton. (click on pic right for bigger picture)
Circus spokesman Chris Barltrop said: "It seems clear the camera was used in a deliberately provocative and aggressive way.
"The fact that the police simply cautioned him reflects the aggression involved.
"The circus is very good with its animals and people are entitled to their personal points of view, but this sort of thing occurs because of deliberate provocation."
The circus will remain in Bolton until the end of this week.
Man cautioned
after protestor hit
1 November 2005
A man was arrested by police after an animal rights protestor was hit during
a demonstration at a circus which has the last performing bear in the UK.
Members of Manchester Animal Protection demonstrated at Peter Jolly's circus when it pitched up in Blackrod, Bolton.
A 28-year-old circus worker was cautioned for common assault after a female protester was hit on Thursday.
Police were called to the site again on Sunday and a 20-year-old man was cautioned for a public order offence.
Clown is arrested in scuffle
1 November 2005
A CLOWN was arrested after a fracas with animal rights protesters.
The 28-year-old man, known only as Sparky, was in full costume when he shoved a campaigner trying to take photos of him, causing the camera to hit a woman in the face.
Activists allegedly tried to block the clown from going into Peter Jolly's Circus in Bolton.
Sparky, from Whitehaven, Cumbria, was cautioned following
the confrontation on Sunday - and police fined a 20-year-old circus
workman from Darlington
after he allegedly flicked a cigarette at a male protester.
A circus
spokesman denied claims by Manchester Animal Protection that big
top workers had threatened campaigners.
He added: "They are looking for trouble."
Clown admits attack on protester
2 November 2005
A PROFESSIONAL clown from Cumbria has accepted a police caution after he admitted assaulting an animal rights protester.
Stanley Thompson, 28, otherwise known as Sparky the Clown, found there was little to smile about when he became embroiled in a clash with animal rights activists on the streets of Bolton.
The Whitehaven man had travelled to the town with Peter Jolly’s Circus, which last week was based at Blackrod, in Bolton, Lancashire.
But his clowning around came to an abrupt and humourless halt after the circus was targeted by protesters from the Manchester Animal Protection group. They were demonstrating against the family-run circus over its use of a performing Canadian bear.
The incident happened last Thursday but Thompson was not arrested until Sunday, when he accepted a caution for common assault.
The clown, wearing his full costume, was said to have shoved a 34-year-old woman protester who was taking pictures of him, causing the camera to hit her in the face. She suffered a minor injury to her mouth and bruising.
Another circus worker was given a fixed penalty fine for a public order offence.
Tempers flared after 15 protestors gathered outside the circus entrance with banners, and began leafleting circus-goers and asking them to boycott the show.
The protestors claimed they were verbally abused by some circus workers.
Animal rights campaigners have condemned the circus for its reaction to what they insist has been a peaceful protest, in which they have followed the circus as it tours Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
Peter Jolly’s Circus is believed to be one of just seven remaining circuses to use animals and is the last to have a performing bear.
A spokesperson for Manchester Animal Protection said: “The actions of circus staff are disgraceful.
“We are disappointed that the man who carried out this unprovoked and cowardly attack has been let off with a caution. We will continue to protest against this and other animal circuses and hope that the Government quickly introduce legislation to end this animal cruelty.”
The campaigners insisted the incident will not deter them from protesting.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: “At approximately 1.30pm on Sunday 20 October 2005, police in Bolton received reports of a disturbance at a circus on Chorley Road, Blackrod.
“Officers attended and remained at the scene for around one hour.
“A 20-year-old man from Darlington was arrested for a Section 5 Public Order offence and given a fixed penalty notice. A 28-year-old man from Whitehaven was given a caution for common assault.”
A spokesman for the circus denied claims by
the protesters that big top workers had threatened campaigners.
He added: “The
circus is very good with its animals.”
Link
to article
No laughing matter as circus clown cautioned over assault 3 November 2005
AN encounter with Sparky the Clown from Whitehaven was no laughing matter
for an animal rights protester and resulted in a police caution for the
children's entertainer.
Stanley Thompson, 28, who works as a circus clown with Peter Jolly's Circus,
confronted demonstrators in a disturbance at the Big Top when the circus
show was in town at Blackrod, Bolton. He was subsequently cautioned by
police for common assault.
The protestor, a 34-year-old woman, claimed Thompson had hit her in the
face, damaging her camera and causing bruising.
Thompson was given the caution after admitting the assault and another
circus worker was given a fixed penalty fine for a public order offence.
Thursday's attack happened after circus staff began threatening violence
towards protesters who were standing outside the circus entrance with
banners, leafleting circus-goers and asking them to boycott animal circuses.
Local newspaper reports in the area told how demonstrators were verbally
abused and threatened by circus staff.
The female protester was taken to Bolton hospital.
Her colleague Louise Stephenson told The Whitehaven News: "We were holding a
peaceful demonstration outside the circus asking people to boycott it and
support animal-free circuses. The circus people became really aggressive.''
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that in relation to an incident on
October 27 a 28-year-old man from Whitehaven had been given a caution for
common assault and also that a 20-year-old Darlington man had been arrested
and fined for public disorder in relation to a similar incident.
Animal rights campaigners claim that the circus has increasingly intimidated
peaceful protesters throughout its tour across Yorkshire and Greater
Manchester this year.
Peter Jolly's Circus is one of just seven remaining circuses to use animals
and is the last to have a performing bear.
A spokesperson for Manchester Animal Protection, who have organised
protests, said: "The actions of circus staff are disgraceful. Peaceful
protesters have been constantly intimidated, threatened and pushed around.
We are disappointed that the man who carried out this attack has been let
off with a caution.
"We have not stopped anyone from going into the circus and have not blocked
the entrance. We are not trying to spoil their livelihoods we just want to
make people aware of what happens to circus animals and hopefully make the
circus reconsider what they do.''
The circus has attracted criticism for its use of animals over its 35-year
history. Besides camels, horses, llamas, snakes, baby crocodiles, a zebra
and a bull, the circus has the last performing bear in the country, a
23-year-old Canadian black bear called Ming. He is brought into the ring to
drink a bottle of milk during the show.
The circus owners insist the animals are cared for and treated properly and
that the protests do not put people off going to their shows.
Chris Barltrop, spokesman for Jolly's, said: "The circus did not feel that
the protesters behaved appropriately. Blocking the gateway will inevitably
lead to friction. If they are going to protest they should do so without
obstruction. The circus feels the protesters were provocatively and
deliberately aggressive.''
Various recent circus demos - Bobby
Roberts, Jollys and Zippos