University student banned for frying hamster to death

UNIVERSITY STUDENT BANNED FOR FRYING HAMSTER TO DEATH

A university student who fried a hamster has been banned from keeping animals for eight years.

James White, who studies in York, was reported to have fried his flatmate's pet while he was intoxicated, as presented in court records.

Experts could not determine whether the hamster had died prior to or after being placed in the hot pan, the court was told.

White, aged 21, from Popes Head Court, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

He was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay £1,000 in court costs.

White told police at the time of arrest that he could not recall what happened to the hamster.

He was initially due to go on trial but changed his plea to guilty after District Judge Roy Anderson indicated he would be convicted regardless of whether the animal was dead before or after cooking.

The judge stated, "What happened on that night is still shrouded in mystery.

By virtue of your treatment of this small, unfortunate rodent you've destroyed your good character and acquired a criminal conviction." He added, "It's accepted now that there was rough handling of that animal but that it couldn't be established that it was putting it in the frying pan and applying heat that caused its death.

Had that sadistic conduct been established I would be dealing with you in a far more serious way than I am."