NORTHAMPTON, England, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- A British animal rights activist has been sentenced to three years in prison for gluing locks, slashing tires and committing other acts of sabotage.
Joseph Harris is the first person convicted under a British law designed to stop harassment and threats from animal rights activists, The Sun reported Wednesday.
Harris said he faced "an increasing moral dilemma" as his work as a cancer researcher forced him to conduct testing on animals in a search for a cure for pancreatic cancer. He was a research scientist at the Queen's Medical Center hospital in Nottingham, the newspaper said, and was fired from his job after being charged with the crimes.
Northampton Court Judge Ian Alexander said: "I am sorry that your conviction and the sentence I impose will seriously damage what was a very promising career. It may well be your future inability to continue your research into gastrointestinal cancer will be a great loss to those who suffer that disease."
"The seriousness and objective of your offences must be marked both as a punishment and deterrent to others," the judge said.
