Emma ParkÂer, a 39-year-old woman from Great GonerÂby, LinÂcolnshire, has been senÂtenced to 12 months in jail for killing and eatÂing her pet hamÂster. She was filmed cutÂting the aniÂmal with a knife while it was still alive, and the footage was cirÂcuÂlatÂed online, promptÂing an RSPCA investigation.
ParkÂer admitÂted one charge of causÂing unnecÂesÂsary sufÂferÂing to a proÂtectÂed aniÂmal at LinÂcoln Crown Court.
The court heard that ParkÂer was addictÂed to Class A drugs. A vet who watched the footage described it as deeply disÂturbÂing, and explained that the hamÂster, named Mr NibÂbles, would have sufÂfered both physÂiÂcal and psyÂchoÂlogÂiÂcal damÂage as hamÂsters are prey aniÂmals that can feel fear.
DurÂing a police interÂview, ParkÂer claimed that she was helpÂing the hamÂster to die after it had been bitÂten by one of her dogs. She refused to name those filmÂing the footage, sayÂing âthey are not nice people.â
PassÂing senÂtence, Judge James House KC took into account that ParÂliaÂment had recentÂly raised the maxÂiÂmum senÂtence for aniÂmal cruÂelÂty from six months to five yearsâ imprisÂonÂment. He described the vioÂlence inflictÂed on the defenceÂless aniÂmal for othÂersâ enterÂtainÂment as âabhorÂrent,â and banned ParkÂer from keepÂing aniÂmals for 15 years.
RSPCA inspecÂtor Andy Bostock expressed his gratÂiÂtude to the police for their supÂport in the invesÂtiÂgaÂtion and statÂed that this type of cruÂelÂty has no place in todayâs society.
He described the inciÂdent as a heartÂless and vicious attack on a defenceÂless aniÂmal, which has been upsetÂting and disÂturbÂing for everyÂone involved in the case.
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