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Laura Cunliffe jailed for microwaving pet kitten | Laura Cunliffe jailed for microwaving pet kitten |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who killed her pet kitten by cooking it in a microwave because she thought it had attacked her goldfish has been jailed for 14 weeks. | A woman who killed her pet kitten by cooking it in a microwave because she thought it had attacked her goldfish has been jailed for 14 weeks. |
Laura Cunliffe, 23, of Hoyland, near Barnsley, put black-and-white Mowgli into the microwave and turned it on for five minutes. | |
She was jailed at Barnsley Magistrates' Court after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. | She was jailed at Barnsley Magistrates' Court after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. |
District Judge John Foster said it was an "act of utterly horrendous cruelty". | District Judge John Foster said it was an "act of utterly horrendous cruelty". |
The court heard Cunliffe put the kitten into the microwave and switched it on but took the animal out about a minute later when she realised what she had done. The kitten died later. | The court heard Cunliffe put the kitten into the microwave and switched it on but took the animal out about a minute later when she realised what she had done. The kitten died later. |
'Suffered terribly' | 'Suffered terribly' |
Her solicitor, Alan Greaves, said Cunliffe had longstanding problems with psychotic depression and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 20 times. | Her solicitor, Alan Greaves, said Cunliffe had longstanding problems with psychotic depression and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 20 times. |
As she was sentenced a family member shouted from the public gallery: "She doesn't know what's happening - she hasn't a clue." | As she was sentenced a family member shouted from the public gallery: "She doesn't know what's happening - she hasn't a clue." |
Another shouted: "This is a failure of medical services, judge." | Another shouted: "This is a failure of medical services, judge." |
Mr Foster told the defendant: "This was an act of utterly horrendous cruelty on your part on an animal that, as far as I could see, had come to trust you and rely on you." | Mr Foster told the defendant: "This was an act of utterly horrendous cruelty on your part on an animal that, as far as I could see, had come to trust you and rely on you." |
Cunliffe was banned from keeping animals for life and was told she cannot apply to have this ban reviewed for five years. | Cunliffe was banned from keeping animals for life and was told she cannot apply to have this ban reviewed for five years. |
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "This was such a sad case and clearly this poor kitten would have suffered terribly over a prolonged period of time. | An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "This was such a sad case and clearly this poor kitten would have suffered terribly over a prolonged period of time. |
"Sentencing is a matter for the courts but we hope this means other animals will not have to suffer in the future in this way." | "Sentencing is a matter for the courts but we hope this means other animals will not have to suffer in the future in this way." |