Actor and TV presenter Stephen Fry has stepped forward to back a charity's campaign for justice after a monkey was left disabled and traumatised by spending nine years in a cage.

Mr Fry has adopted Joey, a Capuchin monkey who was rescued by the Primate welfare charity, Wild Futures, in 2007.

Joey had developed a fused spine, hip dysplasia, a poorly formed jaw and a vitamin D deficiency after being deprived of natural sunlight.

The case left Mr Fry shocked, and has led him to call for an end to the monkey pet trade.

He said: “We are meant to be a nation of animal lovers, so why the trade in a wild, social animal with complex needs is still legal, continues to astound me. Joey’s story is not unique – many of the monkeys rescued by Wild Futures have their own terrible tales.

Joey's owner, Juliette D’Souza, who fled the country in 2007, has returned to the UK and is facing 10 years in prison on 23 counts of fraud and deception, including holding a license for only one of the 9 years she held Joey.

However, she cannot be punished for her cruelty to Joey due to a law in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which states that a court may try information “if it is laid before the end of the period of three years beginning with the date of the offence.” – as the potential offence took place 7 years ago, it is therefore outside the eligible time limit.

The case has led to calls from campaigners to raise awareness of the ‘unfair’ legislation and ultimately extend the prosecution time limit.

Joey was taken from the rainforest at three months old, when his mother was killed for bushmeat, and although Joey’s is one of the worst cases seen, Wild Futures estimates that approximately 5,000 privately owned primates are kept in the UK, with many suffering from mental and physical illnesses as a result.

Rachel Hevesi, Director of Wild Futures, said: “We hope that the Select Committee’s report, which is due to be published this month, favours primate welfare and, brings us a step closer towards a ban. We will not stop campaigning until we achieve Justice for Joey and justice for all the other monkeys out there.

“We hope that as many people as possible write to their MP and ask for justice by way of a ban. Enough is enough; the suffering must end.”

To see more of Joey’s story and for more details about the campaign, click here