UK: Thief spared jail to feed his cat

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | April 17, 2011 | ANDY CRICK

[Stoat]

Thief spared jail to feed his cat

By ANDY CRICK

Published: Today

A SOFT judge spared a thief from prison - so he could go home and feed his CAT.

District judge David Cooper was set to jail Steven Thorne, 55, for repeatedly shoplifting booze.

Let-off ... thief Steven Thorne

But he changed his mind after hearing about Thorne's pet Laura.

Julie Brice, defending, told Colchester Magistrates' Court that there was no one to feed the cat, which was trapped indoors as Thorne did not have a cat flap at his home in Clacton, Essex.

The lawyer added: "She's been at home alone since he was arrested at 8am yesterday. She will be climbing the walls with hunger." Judge Cooper said: "Is this a good reason not to send him to prison, because he has a cat? I've never heard of that."

But he crumbled and let Thorne off with a £75 fine. Then, after ordering him to install a cat flap, he told Thorne: "Would you kindly think of your cat a bit more before you start shoplifting again."

It is the latest case highlighted by The Sun's "Say No To Soft Justice" campaign.

The judge last year let a defendant off with a curfew, then varied the order so the yob could go to a rock festival.

And two weeks ago we told how magistrates lifted a curfew on thug who attacked a cop - so he could take his kids to Disneyland.

 

In a flap ... District judge David Cooper

 

Paedo trial judge ‘drunk in court’

TOP judge is probed by watchdogs over claims he freed alleged paedo while he was DRUNK

• Thug is let off ...
  to go on holiday

[Stoat]

I don't believe it's been clearly established that the pilfered booze was being consumed 'only' by Mr. Thorne.

As usual, my guess is that there's considerably more to this story than what's in the article.

 

 

[Stoat]

Kitteh sends hooman off to filch some booze ping

 

 

[PERKY2004]

So ... if I have a bunch of cats, will that keep me out of prison LONGER? :)

[Lazlo in PA]

[Stoat]

Your photos prove beyond a doubt that this business of kittehs sending hoomans off to get booze for them is truly a crisis of epidemic proportions.
Will kitteh alcoholics be treated under ZeroCare?

[Slings and Arrows]

---

[jocon307]

It’s hard for us to be unsympathetic, no?

[Slings and Arrows]

The Higher Justice must prevail over the Lower.

[Biggirl]

Passing along the buck, or in this case, the catnip!:)=^..^=

[TheOldLady]

I agree with the judge, but I would have thrown Thorne in jail and freed his house key to an animal shelter so they could feed or board the cat at Thorne’s expense.

[Biggirl]

Cat drinking to that!

[CT Hillbilly]

catatonic?

[afraidfortherepublic]

I love that cat picture (calico glaring).

[Slings and Arrows]

Calico’s got cattitude.

[ApplegateRanch]

Okay, just when did you sneak into my house, and snap that picture of Tickle Tail?

[Grizzled Bear]

Epic Mugshot!

[Slings and Arrows]

Better check her rap sheet.

[Slings and Arrows]

It’s a shame The Smoking Gun doesn’t do kittehs.