HORRIFIC CRIME BY JAMIE BLAKE IN THETFORD: CAT MURDER AND PRISON ATTACKS SHOCK NORFOLK

Jamie Lee Blake, a resident of Thetford in Norfolk, has been convicted of a particularly heinous act involving the death of a stray cat, an incident that has garnered widespread condemnation across the region. Currently detained at HMP Bedford, Blake’s criminal record is extensive, including a recent sentence of 22 weeks in a young offenders’ institution and a lifetime ban from owning animals.

Blake’s most disturbing offense occurred in his bedsit in Thetford, where he was under the influence of crack cocaine at the time. He subjected a young male black cat, which he had befriended and named Buddy, to a brutal death by microwaving him for three minutes. The cat had been allowed into Blake’s room at night, where he fed him cheese and tuna, forming a seemingly affectionate bond. However, Blake later claimed that he argued with Buddy because the cat had told him that his mother’s former partner, now deceased, had been injecting her with heroin.

Following the tragic incident, Blake’s disturbing sense of humor was revealed as he reportedly laughed and joked about Buddy’s death with fellow residents at the John Room House sheltered housing unit in Thetford. The body of the cat was later discovered discarded in a wheelie bin, alongside Blake’s microwave, which was also found in the bin. CCTV footage obtained from the housing unit showed Blake picking up the cat by the scruff of its neck and taking it into his room. The footage further revealed him leaving his room with a carrier bag that appeared to contain the deceased animal, and the following day, he was seen disposing of the microwave.

Investigators confirmed the severity of the crime through forensic evidence, which included cat hair and other matter associated with Buddy found inside the microwave. A post-mortem examination conclusively determined that Buddy had been microwaved to death, confirming the cruelty of Blake’s actions.

During the court proceedings, Sally Dale, representing Blake, argued that her client suffered from a personality disorder, which had been worsened by his crack cocaine addiction. Despite this, the court sentenced Blake to 22 weeks in a young offenders’ institution and imposed a lifelong ban on him owning or caring for animals.

Blake’s criminal history extends beyond this incident. In September 2015, he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for his involvement in the systematic torture of a man over a drug debt, a sentence he was still serving as of July 2018. Additionally, in January 2019, Blake received an extra two-year sentence after committing a shocking attack involving squirting feces at two plumbers and a prison officer at HMP Bedford. The court heard that Blake, during a plumbing repair in his cell, produced a plastic bottle filled with feces and deliberately squirted it into the faces of the workers and a prison officer, causing concern over potential disease transmission.

Judge Andrew Bright QC at Luton Crown Court condemned Blake’s actions, describing them as “hard to imagine a more callous, degrading, and disgusting series of assaults on men carrying out their public duties.” Blake’s record includes 29 convictions for 56 offenses, with additional assaults on prison officers and other misconduct while incarcerated. His behavior has led to multiple transfers between facilities, reflecting ongoing disciplinary issues.

Legal experts noted that Blake’s troubled upbringing was acknowledged in court, with two psychiatrists’ reports from 2015 and 2019 diagnosing him with an emotionally unstable personality disorder. Despite this diagnosis, no treatable mental health conditions were identified, leaving his dangerous behavior unmitigated. Blake’s case remains a stark reminder of the severe consequences of criminality intertwined with mental health challenges in Norfolk.