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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cat suffocated in washing machine | Cat suffocated in washing machine |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A kitten suffocated in an empty washing machine after a drunken student placed it inside and closed the door, a court has heard. | A kitten suffocated in an empty washing machine after a drunken student placed it inside and closed the door, a court has heard. |
| Daniel Harris, 20, who is studying at Aberystwyth University, had been playing with Esmeralda, but he forgot about her and later found her dead. | Daniel Harris, 20, who is studying at Aberystwyth University, had been playing with Esmeralda, but he forgot about her and later found her dead. |
| He admitted a charge of criminal damage and was given a 12-month conditional discharge by the town's magistrates. | He admitted a charge of criminal damage and was given a 12-month conditional discharge by the town's magistrates. |
| The court heard how Harris handed himself in to police and felt remorse. | The court heard how Harris handed himself in to police and felt remorse. |
| Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court was told that Esmeralda belonged to his friends, Simon Pritchard and Megan Johnson. | Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court was told that Esmeralda belonged to his friends, Simon Pritchard and Megan Johnson. |
| Gerald Neave, prosecuting, said Harris, originally from the Swansea area, had drunk about two-thirds of a bottle of vodka and pints of beer before returning home on 13 November. | Gerald Neave, prosecuting, said Harris, originally from the Swansea area, had drunk about two-thirds of a bottle of vodka and pints of beer before returning home on 13 November. |
| 'Distress' | 'Distress' |
| Mr Neave said for some reason Harris saw the cat and placed it in the washing machine and closed the door. | Mr Neave said for some reason Harris saw the cat and placed it in the washing machine and closed the door. |
| He woke the next day and went to lectures and when he arrived home his house mates were looking for the kitten. | He woke the next day and went to lectures and when he arrived home his house mates were looking for the kitten. |
| Mr Neave said Harris found the cat dead in the washing machine and hid it in a plastic bag. | Mr Neave said Harris found the cat dead in the washing machine and hid it in a plastic bag. |
| He later dumped the body in bushes near the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. | He later dumped the body in bushes near the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. |
| The court heard that Harris told police it was not unusual for him to place the cat in the empty washing machine. | The court heard that Harris told police it was not unusual for him to place the cat in the empty washing machine. |
| He claimed it was a game he played with the animal, who used to push the door open and hop out. | He claimed it was a game he played with the animal, who used to push the door open and hop out. |
| Alison Mathias, defending, said Harris had apologised to the kitten's owners Ms Johnson and Mr Pritchard. | Alison Mathias, defending, said Harris had apologised to the kitten's owners Ms Johnson and Mr Pritchard. |
| She added: "This has caused a great deal of distress to many - not least to the cat. | She added: "This has caused a great deal of distress to many - not least to the cat. |
| "He was close to the cat and the cat would sleep with him. | "He was close to the cat and the cat would sleep with him. |
| "He would play a game with the cat and put the cat into the washing machine and it would push the door open, but on this occasion it was a game which went very, very wrong. | "He would play a game with the cat and put the cat into the washing machine and it would push the door open, but on this occasion it was a game which went very, very wrong. |
| "He consumed alcohol and because of his drunkenness he closed the door with more force than usual. There was no intent to cause damage, but he admits it was reckless. | "He consumed alcohol and because of his drunkenness he closed the door with more force than usual. There was no intent to cause damage, but he admits it was reckless. |
| "He surrendered himself to the police. He gave a full and frank admission." | "He surrendered himself to the police. He gave a full and frank admission." |
| Ms Mathias said Harris had a few "personal difficulties". | |
| Harris was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay £85 costs. | Harris was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay £85 costs. |