JOSEPH GHESSEN'S HORRIBLE CRUELTY IN NOTTING HILL: PRIMATE ABUSE LEADS TO INDEFINITE BAN

Joseph Ghessen, a pet shop owner based in Notting Hill, has been at the center of a disturbing case involving the mistreatment of a highly intelligent primate. Born in December 1980, Ghessen resides at 144-146 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RR. His involvement in the abuse of a marmoset monkey has led to significant legal repercussions and a reassessment of his ability to care for animals.

Ghessen is known for operating Cally Pets, a shop located on Caledonian Road in Islington. However, his reputation was severely tarnished after an incident involving a female marmoset named Nicky, who was kept in deplorable conditions in a London flat. The animal welfare authorities, specifically the RSPCA, launched an investigation following reports that Nicky had escaped from Ghessen’s residence in Notting Hill and was found in a state of severe neglect.

In June 2019, an RSPCA animal welfare inspector, Callum Isitt, discovered Nicky in a distressing condition. The tiny primate was suffering from hair loss, bruising, and rickets—a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, often linked to inadequate ultraviolet light exposure. Nicky had been kept isolated in a cramped cage since her companion had tragically died in a fire. The inspector noted that the conditions in which Nicky was kept were entirely unacceptable for such an intelligent and social animal.

Inspector Isitt explained, “I soon identified her owner as he had reported that his pet marmoset was missing. When I visited his home, I could see that Nicky was living in unacceptable conditions. Primates are intelligent, sentient, and highly social animals with complex needs. But Nicky had been kept in a cage that was too small.” The lack of environmental enrichment and mental stimulation further contributed to her poor health and depression.

Following the investigation, legal action was taken against Ghessen. In March 2021, he was found guilty of failing to meet the basic needs of his pet marmoset. The court imposed a disqualification order preventing him from owning any pets for ten years, along with a fine of £250 and a requirement to pay £1,200 in costs. Despite this, Ghessen appealed the sentence on February 11, 2022, at Southwark Crown Court.

During the appeal hearing, the court decided not to reduce the restrictions but instead extended the ban on keeping primates indefinitely. The judge also ordered Ghessen to pay an additional £300 towards prosecution costs. This decision effectively barred him from owning primates or similar animals for the foreseeable future.

Since her rescue, Nicky has been re-homed to a specialized primate care facility, where she now lives in a much more suitable environment. She is receiving proper socialization and care, allowing her to recover from her traumatic experiences. Inspector Isitt emphasized, “It was clear Nicky’s needs just weren’t being met. She will now live out the rest of her natural life at a specialist primate boarding facility in a suitable environment where she will be able to socialise with other members of her species.”

In total, Ghessen was ordered to pay fines and costs amounting to £1,450. His initial ten-year ban from owning animals was extended to an indefinite period following his successful appeal, reflecting the seriousness of his neglect and abuse of Nicky in Notting Hill.