Gino D'Acampo: no regrets over ‘criminal’ rat killing

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07 December 2009, 08:53

I’m A Celebrity winner Gino D'Acampo has explained that he doesn’t regret apparently killing a rat on the show, despite being reportedly charged with animal cruelty.

D'Acampo was allegedly charged after he and Stuart Manning claimed to have caught, killed and cooked the rodent.

The RSPCA in New South Wales, Australia, said it was "not acceptable" that a rat had been killed by the pair as part of a performance. Police confirmed they had issued court attendance notices for 3 February 2010.

However, the chef was reported by The Sun as saying: "I don't regret one single thing I did in the jungle to feed my campmates. It was the best recipe I ever did. It was beautiful."

A friend added of the charge: "He's upset he's had to take responsibility for this."

While on the show D'Acampo said while in the video diary room: "I saw one of these rats running around. I got a knife, I got its throat, I picked it up."

Ch Insp David Oshannessy, from the RSPCA in New South Wales, told BBC Radio 5 live there was a "code of practice" which dictated how animals could be used in theatrical productions and films.

He said: "The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras.”

Manning reportedly said: "I know nothing about this."

Last updated: 07 December 2009, 08:56