CONVICTED (2023) | Emma Suzanne Parker, born 8 April 1983, of Belvoir Gardens, Great Gonerby, Grantham NG31 8LQ – filmed killing and eating her pet hamster.
Videos of drug-addicted mother-of-one Emma Parker cutting the hamster, known as Mr Nibbles, with a knife while he was still alive were circulated online, prompting an RSPCA investigation.
Two videos filmed at Parker’s home were sent to the RSPCA by a concerned member of the public.
Gordon Holt, prosecuting, said: ‘The two videos seen on social media showed the defendant with a hamster in a hamster ball.
‘The defendant is holding the ball with a knife in the other hand .
‘She takes the knife and plunges it through the opening of the ball moving the knife from side to side.
‘A spectator is heard laughing and says ‘you are a sick b* you are.’
‘The hamster can be heard repeatedly squealing, it is allowed to escape and runs around a while.
‘The defendant attempts to strike it with the knife, successfully at least once.
‘She pinches its neck to keep it still.
‘It is still alive and she uses the knife in a chopping and sawing motion over the middle of the hamster’s body.
‘In the second video the defendant eats the two halves of the dissected body.’
In one of the clips, a woman who is off-camera can be heard laughing as Parker devours the rodent.
A vet who watched the footage described the content as deeply disturbing and said the pet would have suffered both physical and psychological damage as hamsters were prey animals which could feel fear.
During a police interview, Parker admitted the video was of her and claimed she was helping the hamster to die after it had been bitten by one of her dogs.
Parker said the incident took place at her home in mid-May, but refused to name those filming the footage, telling police: “They are not nice people”.
In court, the mother-of-one admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court heard Parker had been made the subject of community orders in both 2021 and 2022 for offences of shoplifting, and had a long history of addiction to Class A drugs.
Chris Brewin, mitigating, said Parker had been targeted as a result of the video, with her home vandalised and dog faeces put through the letter box.
Passing sentence Judge James House KC told Parker he had to take into account that Parliament had recently raised the maximum sentence for such animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
He said it was “abhorrent” that violence had been inflicted on a defenceless animal for others’ entertainment.
“The hamster was injured at least twice and then while still alive cut in half,” the judge said.
“You are then seen holding a bottle of water and then eating the two halves of the dissected hamster.”
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Andy Bostock said: “We share the public’s revulsion at this horrific incident and we’d like to thank the police for their support in this investigation.
“This type of cruelty has no place in today’s society and was a heartless vicious attack on a defenceless animal.
“It has been upsetting and disturbing for everyone who has been involved in this case.”
Judge House said Parker’s cruelty had been “as serious as could be”.
Sentencing | one year in prison. A 15-year ban on keeping animals.
