CONVICTED (2024) | Harry Locker, born 7 January 2000, of Nethergate Street in Hopton, near Diss IP22 2QZ – placed a live chicken into a cage containing ferrets and filmed as the bird was attacked and slowly killed.
Locker pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, by causing a ferret to attack a white coloured chicken.
The RSPCA was alerted to the incident by a member of the public that the bird had been deliberately put in the cage with the ferrets.
The defendant was arrested and three videos were found on his phone showing his ferrets attacking and killing the chicken.
A vet who examined the videos said the suffering was caused directly by the person who placed the bird in with the ferrets and that based on the videos it appeared the bird took three minutes to die – during which time it was repeatedly attacked and bitten.
Speaking after the case RSPCA Inspector Caroline Richardson said: “The footage is very difficult to watch. Animals are sentient creatures who feel emotions and this poor bird was made to suffer for almost three minutes while it was attacked.
“I am pleased the defendant has been held to account for his actions. I hope this case sends out a clear message that deliberate cruelty of this kind is not ever acceptable.”
The ferrets were signed over to the RSPCA.
In mitigation the defendant said that he had mental health issues and that this was a foolish thing to have done.
Sentencing | 18 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days; A total of £1,964 in costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping all animals, except for dogs, for five years (expires January 2029).
What exactly are the ” mental health issues” that make someone put ferrets in a cage with a hen,to watch the hen being killed ?
Why do they trot this pathetic excuse out thinking anyone would believe it ?
Grotty and nasty man.