Flower-eating goat and his owner cleared of vandalism

By PETER SIMPSON
Published on 23/01/2013 13:28

A GOAT and his owner are celebrating being cleared of vandalism charges after the animal chewed on a flowerbed outside a Sydney museum.

Gary the goat had been stopped by police as he munched on the flowers outside the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art, with police claiming that his owner, comedian James Dezarnaulds, had recklessly failed to apprehend the animal.

Gary the goat currently has more than 10,000 fans on Facebook, and travels with the comedian when he tours under the stage name Jimbo Bazoobi.

Dezarnaulds was accused of vandalism and fined 440 Australian dollars, or around £300, but took his case to an appeal court.

Magistrate Carolyn Barkell ruled that Mr Dezarnaulds had no control over what Gary might choose to eat, and that there was no evidence that the man had convinced the goat to eat the plants as police had claimed.

Dezarnaulds emerged from court wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘Goats need love too’, and was accompanied to his hearing by Gary, who was wearing a rainbow-striped bowler hat.

Dezarnaulds said on leaving court: “Gary’s name has been cleared of all this slander. He was simply eating and I want to thank everyone for coming down here.

“Gary the goat taught the cops a valuable lesson today, don’t bite off more than you can chew.”