PAUL HENRY FROM GAINSBOROUGH INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY AND VIOLENCE CASES IN LINCOLNSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Gainsborough and the wider Lincolnshire area, Paul Henry, a known career criminal born around 1966, was convicted of a heinous act of animal cruelty that took place on July 26, 2010. The incident involved the brutal microwaving death of an 18-month-old cat named Suzie, an act that drew widespread condemnation and highlighted Henry's long history of violent behavior.

According to court proceedings, Henry was at a friend’s flat, owned by Andrew Parsons, when the tragic event occurred. Mr. Parsons, upon returning home from work, was horrified to discover the remains of Suzie inside the microwave oven. The scene was further marred by the chilling inscription on the kitchen wall that read, ‘Menu fried cat £1.20,’ indicating a disturbing sense of casual cruelty.

Henry denied causing unnecessary suffering to the animal, but evidence presented in court painted a different picture. Within just 48 minutes of Mr. Parsons leaving the flat at approximately 4:30 pm, Henry sent a series of text messages to his then-girlfriend, Claire, which explicitly referenced the act. One message read, ‘Claire, just cooking Andy’s cat, enroute,’ while a subsequent message stated, ‘Just cooking Andy’s cat in microwave, be two minutes.’ These messages served as a chilling confirmation of his involvement.

During the trial, Henry attempted to shift blame onto a second individual, Phillip Mathers, who had also visited the flat while Mr. Parsons was at work. Henry claimed that Mathers was responsible for Suzie’s death, but the court found insufficient evidence to support this assertion. Judge Stobart explicitly stated that there was no proof placing Mathers at the scene when the cat was killed, leading to Mathers being cleared of any involvement.

The victim’s owner, Mr. Parsons, recounted that after discovering Suzie’s remains, he contacted the police immediately. During the subsequent investigation, Henry called him and falsely accused Mathers, saying, “He just said it was Mathers who did your cat.”

Further court revelations included Mathers’ admission to stealing a razor from Mr. Parsons’ flat and injecting liquid amphetamines with Henry, but Mathers maintained he was not present when the cat was microwaved. Prosecutor Paul Wood confirmed that the cat was alive when placed into the microwave and died as a direct result of being cooked.

District Judge John Stobart condemned Henry’s actions as the “worst case of animal cruelty he could imagine,” and sentenced him to six months in jail. Additionally, Henry received an unspecified ban on keeping animals, reflecting the court’s intent to prevent future cruelty.

However, Henry’s criminal record extends beyond this incident. In October 2012, he was sentenced to a minimum of nine years in prison for attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend, Claire Boswell. Judge Michael Heath described Henry as “self-absorbed” and a “manipulative bully,” emphasizing the callousness of his behavior, exemplified by the microwaving of Suzie.

Henry’s history of violence dates back to his teenage years, with convictions starting when he was around 12 or 13. His criminal record includes multiple assaults, including two attacks on another girlfriend in 2004 and a grievous bodily harm incident in 1993, when he punched his manager several times after being told he was being made redundant.

In the case of Claire Boswell, Henry’s actions escalated to a terrifying level. After being arrested on September 14, 2011, for harassing Ms. Boswell—climbing onto her roof, entering her house, and threatening to kill her—he was given a suspended sentence. Later that same day, he forcibly entered her home by smashing a window, retrieved a knife from her kitchen drawer, and stabbed her, causing life-threatening injuries including a punctured liver and a breast wound.

Judge Heath summarized Henry’s character, stating, “You can be charm personified, but if things don’t suit you or go your way, you resort to violence,” highlighting the pattern of aggressive and dangerous behavior that has marked his life. His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of addressing violent tendencies and animal cruelty within the criminal justice system.