[James]

And it's been released from captivity...

No action over Burns' monkey coat

Pete Burns wore the coat in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother
Singer Pete Burns will not be prosecuted over a monkey fur coat, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Experts had examined the coat after police seized it from the Celebrity Big Brother house when Burns claimed it was made from gorilla fur.

It was found to be monkey fur, but police checked whether any importation offences had been committed by Burns.

"There is no evidence to suggest that this garment was imported illegally," the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Burns' garment caused outrage from his fellow contestants in Channel 4's reality show and criticism from those outside.

Police seized the item following complaints from viewers.

It was examined by experts at the Natural History Museum, who concluded it was made from black and white colobus monkeys, which are native to Africa.

It has been illegal to import their fur since 1975 but it is not illegal to own it.

The CPS said in a statement that the coat was in a poor condition, and it was believed the pelts used to make it were likely to have been imported into the UK in the 1930s or 1940s.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Police, which currently has the coat, said it would be returned to the singer shortly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4671372.stm

[Siouxsie]

thanks james

[abbashop79]

Plenty of action in his coat though

[Sunny_01]

Thank god the saga of the coat is over

[GlitterEyes]

Only rightly so

[BusyBee]

Still he got his publicity for it. Personally I think the coat should be destroyed however old it is or how it got into the country. To may mind no-one should be allowed to own let alone wear a real fur coat. Sorry to be contraversial but thems my opinions.

[ally001]

Originally posted by BusyBee
Still he got his publicity for it. Personally I think the coat should be destroyed however old it is or how it got into the country. To may mind no-one should be allowed to own let alone wear a real fur coat. Sorry to be contraversial but thems my opinions.

And what compassionate and intelligent opinions they are....

[ally001]

I say burn the coat with that hideous Cruella deVille in it. I think it would be a hazard to burn all that plastic though, imagine the toxic gasses that would produce?

[Arkadina]

Is it just me, or does Pete get away with everything?