Man who microwaved 'favourite' hamster Suzie jailed for nine weeks

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:15 PM on 22nd September 2010

 

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Behind bars: Anthony Parker, 29, who microwaved his 'favourite' hamster to death, was jailed for nine weeks today

 

A man who microwaved his 'favourite' hamster to death was jailed for nine weeks today.

Anthony Parker, 29, was also banned from keeping animals for five years after he admitted putting his pet in the cooker after a drunken row with his girlfriend.

The court heard he told officers: 'I didn't mean to kill her.

'She was the best hamster I ever had. She was called Suzie.'

Parker, an unemployed construction worker, shook his head as he was led away from the dock at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court in handcuffs.

Chairman of the bench Barbara Sutherland told him the starting point of sentencing had been 12 weeks but that was reduced to nine because of his guilty plea.

'You will serve half in prison and the rest on licence,' she told him.

Parker, of Hartlepool, Teesside, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a Syrian hamster by microwaving it, resulting in its death.

Neil Taylor, prosecuting, said the animal had been killed in a cruel way.

Parker had been drinking all day and when his girlfriend came home, on February 23, they rowed.

The defendant told police he had not meant to kill Suzie, but admitted putting her in the cooker.

He later said he had no recollection of events.

'No recollection of events': Parker, an unemployed construction worker, shook his head as he was led away from the dock at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court in handcuffs

 

Microwaved: A Syrian hamster like this one was killed after it was put in the cooker

 

Officers found Suzie in a green wheelie bin outside.

'It was clear the hamster died in agony,' Mr Taylor said.

The animal's lips were burned and its eyes were opaque.

A post-mortem examination showed Suzie had been exposed to microwave radiation.

Mr Taylor said the hamster would have tried to get away from the source of the radiation which was heating her internal cells, but of course she could not.

'Death finally occurs when the brain is over-heated or the heart muscles stop functioning,' he said.

Parker initially denied the offence on legal advice because his confession to police was made when he was very drunk, the court heard.

He changed his plea by letter before today's hearing.

 

 

Adrian Morris, defending, said his client had previous convictions for drink-driving and a public order offence which happened six years ago.

There was nothing on his record linked to cruelty, Mr Morris said.

'He effectively comes before this court a man of good character.'

He said Suzie's death would have been rapid and the 'cruelty and suffering were not prolonged'.

Mr Taylor responded: 'This is a man so drunk he puts a hamster into a microwave and kills it.'

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314255/Man-microwaved-favourite-hamster-jailed-9-weeks.html#ixzz10H8Xxvuv

Poor Hamster :cry:

What a horrible thing to do:cry:

That awful! :( I have an hamster too...I could NEVER microwave my little Bono (yes my hamster is called Bono)

^great name :awesome:

 

and yes, this story is horrible... :cry: