Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary in Cymmer
A SCHOOLBOY has been given a night-time curfew for his part in a burglary at a cat sanctuary which led to the death and disappearance of seven animals.
Three cats were found mauled to death following the break-in at the Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary in Cymmer last July, while another four have never been found.
Today a 15-year-old boy — who cannot be named for legal reasons — appeared at Swansea Youth Court after previously pleading guilty to burglary.
A co-defendant in the case — 18-year-old Frank Lewis, of Penderyn Road in Croeserw – will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to burglary and criminal damage.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, told the court that on the evening of July 30 last year the owner of the cat sanctuary, Teresa Ahmad, was told that a number of "dead or severely injured" cats had been found on the lane leading to the centre. The owner went to the scene and found the fence around one of the pens had been cut, and ten cats — along with a pet cage and a whiteboard — were missing.
The barrister said Ms Ahmad called the police, and then contacted supporters of the sanctuary, who organised search parties in an attempt to find the missing animals.
One of the volunteers saw the defendants in the area but they ran off.
The court heard three of the missing cats were subsequently found alive in a cage hidden in undergrowth, while the three animals found on the lane were dead — the barrister said an examination showed they had been "mauled by a carnivore, most likely a dog" and had probably died "slow and painful deaths". Four of the missing cats have never found.
The court heard the teenagers were subsequently caught on the evening of July 30 by one the of sanctuary volunteers at the nearby cemetery.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Ahmad said the burglary and the loss of the cats had "changed my life for ever".
She said she still had images in her mind of the mauled cats she found, and hadn't been able to grieve properly because she had to stay strong for the volunteers at the sanctuary.
Solicitor Nick Lewis, representing the youth, said the Crown accepted his client's basis of plea that he had not caused the cats any harm or caused them injury.
He said the 15-year-old suffered from a "significant mental illness and social problems" and was also "genuinely" remorseful for his actions.
George Swan, chairman of the magistrates, said the bench had to take into consideration the harm and distress the incident had caused.
The youth was given an "intensive" nine-month referral order, and made the subject of a three-month 9pm to 7,30am curfew. He is also banned from contacting the sanctuary and as his co-defendant, and must comply with the Youth Offending Service.
He will also have to pay £85 court costs and a £15 surcharge.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/teen-sentenced-for-burglary-at-ty-nant-cat-sanctuary/story-30053314-detail/story.html#WkY9oYdvJ65lJAf1.99
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