London zoo meerkat expert attacks love-rival monkey handler

A former meerkat expert at London Zoo has been ordered to pay compensation to a monkey handler she attacked with a wine glass in a love spat over a llama-keeper.

The women were believed to be at war over Adam Davies, who was the llama keeper, who dated both of them, separately. Westlake, who is appealing against her conviction, was also told to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £200 court costs on top of the £800 compensation.

Westlake claimed Ms Saunders had attacked her first, by punching her and spitting in her face.

Daniel Geller, prosecuting, said: “Miss Westlake hit Miss Sanders on the side of her face”.

Westlake had been dating Mr Davies, 30, for a year at the time of the assault and Miss Sanders had previously had a five-year relationship with him.

“Obviously very surprised by this Miss Sanders stretched her arms out in defence, pushing Miss Westlake back by her face”.

According to Judge Jeremy Coleman of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Sanders suffered a “nasty” face injury during the fight.

Ms Sanders, who needed stitches, told the court she was now afraid to leave her home “for fear of running into Caroline or her friends”.

“The glass appears to have broken on contact because it caused a cut to Miss Sanders’s face, a cut which was bleeding”.

In an impact statement, she said she has been left with an ugly scar on her cheek “which will be with me for the rest of my life”.

“I think about it every single day at work and feel a black mark has been placed against me that may affect my further promotion”, she added.

Westlake, of Salisbury Road, Banstead, Surrey, denied one count of assault but was convicted by magistrates.

Westlake and Mr Davies split soon after the incident.

She was sacked and is barred from Zoological Society of London events for two years.