Posted on 04/17/2011 10:59:26 PM PDT by Stoat
District judge David Cooper was set to jail Steven Thorne, 55, for repeatedly shoplifting booze.
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.
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.
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.
So ... if I have a bunch of cats, will that keep me out of prison LONGER? :)
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?
It’s hard for us to be unsympathetic, no?
The Higher Justice must prevail over the Lower.
Passing along the buck, or in this case, the catnip!:)=^..^=
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.
Cat drinking to that!
catatonic?
I love that cat picture (calico glaring).
Calico’s got cattitude.
Epic Mugshot!
Better check her rap sheet.
It’s a shame The Smoking Gun doesn’t do kittehs.
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