Pet sheep Lucy in legal wrangle

Lucy was bought for Lauren Parkinson

A judge has ordered a woman to hand over her daughter's pet sheep to a rescue centre after a legal wrangle over ownership of the animal.

Bethan Parkinson, of Rhydymain, near Dolgellau, Gwynedd, bought Lucy the sheep for nine-year-old Lauren.

When the animal needed a new home Ms Parkinson turned to an animal rescue centre in Buckley, Flintshire.

But when Ms Parkinson and her family turned up to take Lucy to their new home, the centre claimed ownership.

Officers from North Wales Police were called and Ms Parkinson was able to prove she had bought the animal and was allowed to take it home.

Buckley town councillor Joan Glendenning, who runs the centre, then took legal action under the Return of Goods Act.

I was not impressed with evidence from Miss Parkinson District Judge Harold Godwin

At a hearing at Aberystwyth County Court, District Judge Harold Godwin found in Ms Glendenning's favour.

Ms Glendenning, representing herself, told the court she had taken Lucy in on the understanding the sheep would remain with her for the rest of its life. She said that was the centre's policy.

Ms Glendenning explained that Ms Parkinson knew this because she had handed another sheep, called Teddy, over to her previously.

She added that she only accepted to take the sheep after numerous phone calls on 30 December last year, when Ms Parkinson said Lucy might have to be put down.

Ms Parkinson told the court she had given Lucy to Ms Glendenning temporarily after an attempt was made to set the sheep alight at a farm where she was being kept.

Ms Parkinson said she paid Ms Glendenning hundreds of pounds and worked voluntarily at her rescue centre to pay for Lucy's keep.

But this was disputed by Ms Glendenning, who told the hearing that caring for Lucy was not a temporary arrangement.

She told the court she had received about £50 from Ms Parkinson towards a vet's bill, and she had worked once a week at the rescue centre for a few weeks after persistently asking to help out.

"If this was a temporary arrangement she (Lucy) would not have been there five months later," Ms Glendenning told the court.

"That's not a temporary arrangement."

Judge Godwin said Ms Parkinson had tried to "backtrack" on the agreement with Ms Glendenning and it was not open to her to change her mind.

Outside court Joan Glendenning said she was delighted with the verdict

Of Ms Parkinson's court evidence, Judge Godwin said: "I was not impressed with the evidence from Miss Parkinson.

"I found it too fanciful and at times exaggerated and frankly unbelievable.

"The ownership of Lucy remains with Ms Glendenning."

Judge Godwin said he understood the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had upheld a complaint made by Ms Glendenning against North Wales Police.

He said had it not been for the police force's intervention, Lucy would have remained in Ms Glendenning's care.

Judge Godwin gave Ms Parkinson seven days to hand over the sheep and ordered her to pay £236.16 court costs.