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Man sentenced in London for illegal trade of primate skulls


[Peter Bailey]

On Friday, 1 September, Peter Bailey, 65 (03.04.52) of Chale Road, Lambeth was found guilty at Inner London Crown Court of six offences as follows:

– four counts of keeping Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species items for sale (endangered primate skulls, leopard skulls and bear skulls);
– one count of offering Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species for sale (dwarf crocodile skull);
– one count of selling two Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species items (baboon skulls).

Bailey was bailed ahead of sentencing at the same court. Today, Friday, 29 September, Bailey was sentenced to a total of 26 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £4000.

The items included a variety of skulls such as chimpanzee, drill, guenon, mangabeys, macaques and colobus as well as derivatives from other endangered species such as crocodiles, elephant, Asian Black Bear, whales. The court heard how Bailey had offered items for sale and sold items without the necessary Article 10 certificate* or import permits which are required for the trade to be deemed legal.

The items were examined by Government appointed Wildlife Inspector who concluded that many of the primate specimens originated from west or central Africa and were taken from the wild recently. This is of particular concern in relation to drills which are critically endangered species.

During interview, Bailey admitted that he had imported specimens from Africa. Two baboon skulls were sold to a UK buyer after they were advertised via an on-line marketplace as ‘taxidermy monkey skull, baboon, curio, collectable skull, rare’ and sold for £140 and £170 respectively.

Bailey appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday, 15 March where he entered not guilty pleas. He was released on bail to attend the same court on 29 August for trial.

* If the specimen is on Appendix I / Annex A & is ‘unworked’, for example an unaltered tiger skull, un-carved elephant tusk or an un-backed animal skin, then irrespective of the age of the item, the owner must apply for an Article 10 certificate prior to any trade taking place. Within the UK, an Article 10 certificate is issued by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) a subsection of DEFRA, who are the UK Management Authority for CITES. If the specimen is on Appendix II / Annex B proof of lawful import must be shown.

= Peter Bailey was found not guilty of two counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of goods – contrary to Customs & Excise Management Act 1979.

Source: Met Police – click here for full article.