#MostEvil | Declan Kevin Baker, born 6 January 1991, of Craig O’Loch Road, Forfar DD8 1BZ – cooked a kitten in a microwave

In February 2009 Baker pleaded guilty to cooking a four-week-old kitten in a microwave.

Although the kitten initially survived, one of his paws became swollen and flesh elsewhere on his tiny body started to decay. Six days after the attack he was put to sleep to end his suffering.

Baker could not explain his sadistic act other than to say that he had drank half-a-bottle of whisky and that it was a joke that had gone too far.

The kitten – one of a litter – belonged to Baker’s friend, who called the police when he discovered what Baker had done. Animal welfare campaigners were disappointed that Baker was not given a custodial sentence. However, Baker was met with angry scenes outside the court and had to be taken home in a police van. He had also received death threats.

In January 2010 Baker was told that he would not have to complete his community service sentence due to a debilitating medical condition, the precise nature of which was not revealed.

Sentencing: 120 hours of community service. Banned from keeping pets for seven years (expired 2016).

BBC News

Update

In September 2018 Baker was convicted of driving under the influence of drink or drugs and fined. The court heard that Baker had just spent two months in a mental health facility.

Baker is now married with a son. According to his Facebook account, he is a “Marfan Syndrome Survivor” and is also on the autistic spectrum.