Jigsaw fashion tycoon who played as royal ‘matchmaker’ for Wills and Kate charged with sheep cruelty offences on £12million country estate

The multi-millionaire founder of luxury fashion chain Jigsaw has been charged with animal cruelty offences on his £12million country estate, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

John Robinson, who played a key role in Prince William and Kate’s love story and is a close friend of the Middleton family, faces nine charges under animal welfare legislation.

The 77-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday accused of permitting the suffering of animals on his sprawling 300-acre farm in Wiltshire. 

Also appearing in the dock was farm manager Charles Williams, who faces ten charges under animal welfare legislation. 

Robinson is accused of permitting the unnecessary suffering of animals on three occasions, including to a lamb when he allegedly failed ‘either to seek veterinary advice or to humanely destroy’ the lamb despite knowing it would suffer.

Jigsaw is a fashion clothing retailer with store and concession partners across United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia 

He is also accused of failing to ensure ‘the needs of an animal for which you were responsible’ and of failing to provide a farm inspector with mortality records.

The charges relate to a period between November 2022 and January this year. Emma Carroll prosecuting on behalf of Wiltshire Council said: ‘This case is in relation to animal welfare offences against sheep which were owned by John Robinson and kept by Charles Williams, who was employed as the farm manager. 

At the time of the offences both individuals were living on the site of the farm. The offences relate to inspections which have taken place on the farm.

‘There were complaints from members of the public who have seen very sick or unwell sheep on the land. A number of sheep had to be culled because they were suffering and there have been issues around the animal carcasses not being disposed of.’

The 77-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday accused of permitting the suffering of animals on his sprawling 300-acre farm in Wiltshire

Robinson founded Jigsaw in 1970 with his now ex-wife Belle. Their wealth has previously been estimated at £130million by the Sunday Times Rich List.

They count the Middleton family among their close friends, and their instrumental role in the Kate and William’s courtship began when they hired the now Princess of Wales to work at their head office in 2006 when she finished university.

Robinson gave Kate the use of his luxurious hilltop villa on Mustique, in the Caribbean, for private romantic holidays with the young Prince. Mr Robinson and his then wife also attended their wedding in 2011.

Neither Robinson nor Williams entered pleas to the charges. They will next appear at Swindon Crown Court on September 27. Both men are on unconditional bail.