Three women, who are members of an animal activist group, have been found guilty of stealing three lambs from the Royal Sandringham Estate.
Rosa Sharkey, 26, of Mayville Estate, London, Sarah Foy, 26, of North Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, and Rose Patterson, 37, of Kirton Gardens, London, were each charged with three counts of theft and three counts of failing to register the animals’ movements following the incident on 24 May 2023.
The three women, who are members of the Animal Rising activist group, handed themselves in at Windsor Police Station the day after taking the animals from Appleton Farm in West Newton.
They admitted removing the lambs but denied theft, telling officers in interview they had “rescued” them and that their actions were “necessary and justified”.
Following a three-day trial at Norwich Crown Court ending on Thursday, September 24, a jury unanimously found all three defendants guilty of theft.
The case followed an investigation by Norfolk Police, working alongside the farm and relevant agencies, to establish the circumstances surrounding the removal of the lambs.
The three women were each handed a 12-month community order requiring 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £364 in costs and victim surcharge.
Charges of failing to register the animals’ movements are due to be heard separately at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on 22 December 2026.
Earlier charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the lambs did not proceed.
After the guilty verdict Animal Rising posted on social media saying: “Breaking: royal rescuers found guilty.
“Rose, Sarah, and Rosa have been convicted of theft after the rescue of three lambs, Sammy, Sunny, and Sooty, from King Charles III’s Sandringham Estate in 2023.”
