The director of a Codicote-based big cat charity is set to stand trial after being charged with animal welfare offences.
Terence Moore of the Cat Survival Trust has been charged with eight counts relating to the unnecessary suffering of endangered animals, which were in his care at the Codicote Road sanctuary.
The 77-year-old was also charged with four offences of failing to meet the animals' needs, and 16 counts of using endangered animals for commercial gain without a licence.
He pleaded not guilty to all the offences in March 2023, but will now stand trial at St Albans Crown Court on April 22.
READ MORE: Charity Commission opens inquiry into Cat Survival Trust
"On January 23, 2023, Terrence Moore, 77, of Codicote Road, Welwyn, was charged with eight counts relating to the unnecessary suffering of endangered animals contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in his care at a big cat sanctuary," said a Herts police spokesman.
"He was also charged 16 counts relating to the use of endangered animals for commercial gain without a licence, and four offences of failing to meet the animals’ needs, contrary Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
"At a pre-trial hearing on March 29, 2023, Mr Moore pleaded not guilty to all 28 offences and is currently on bail. A trial date has been set for 22 April 2024 at St Albans Crown Court."
Founded in 1976, the trust housed cats including snow leopards and mountain lions their site in the Hertfordshire village.
The news of Mr Moore's trial comes after the Charity Commission for England and Wales confirmed it was opening inquiry into Cat Survival Trust, due to a "continuous failure to file its legally required accounts" over 11 consecutive years.
"Over the years, the commission has worked to encourage the charity to submit overdue financial information," read a statement from the commission.
"The regulator took steps to establish if the charity was still operating and repeatedly sent filing reminders before opening a regulatory compliance case in 2019.
"Further failure to file, now totalling 11 consecutive years, has led the regulator to open an inquiry."
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