GRANT HURLBERT'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN MOTHERWELL: KITTEN KILLING AND ASSAULTS SHOCK COMMUNITY

Grant Hurlbert, born January 1984 and residing on Inveravon Drive in Motherwell, has been convicted of a heinous act of animal cruelty and violent assault that has left the local community in shock. The incident, which took place in December 2010, involved Hurlbert killing a 14-week-old kitten named Jar Jar in a particularly brutal manner.

According to court reports, Hurlbert, who was at the time living in Strood, Kent, had received the kitten as a gift from his then-girlfriend. This relationship would later result in the birth of two children. On the evening of the incident, Hurlbert arrived at his girlfriend’s family home while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Witnesses described his behavior as erratic and bizarre, noting that he at one point rolled around naked on the floor, displaying signs of intoxication and possible drug influence.

It was during this chaotic scene that a family member, alarmed by loud noises emanating from the kitchen, went to investigate. What he saw was disturbing: Hurlbert holding the defenseless kitten above his head with both hands before forcefully slamming it onto the floor three times. The family member recounted that the kitten, Jar Jar, was twitching on the ground after the assault and later succumbed to his injuries. The cruelty inflicted upon the animal was described as wanton and unnecessary, causing widespread outrage.

In addition to the animal cruelty, Hurlbert also assaulted his girlfriend’s father during the altercation, attempting to throw him out of the house. The police were called, and Hurlbert was arrested some time later. During police questioning, Hurlbert claimed he could not remember the incident, a defense that did not sway the court.

Hurlbert, who owns a scaffolding company called Quick Fix Scaffolding Ltd, faced a court appearance in January 2011. The judge condemned his actions, emphasizing that intoxication was no justification for such acts of cruelty. The court found him guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison. Additionally, he was banned from owning or keeping any animals for the rest of his life. The court also imposed sentences for the assault charges—eight weeks in total—and an extra four weeks for possessing cannabis and causing criminal damage.

This case has sparked significant concern among residents of Motherwell and beyond, highlighting issues of animal cruelty and violence. The community continues to grapple with the implications of such a disturbing incident involving a local resident.