PAUL WOOLSTON HORRIFIC CRIME IN HARTLEPOOL: CAT ABUSE AND ONLINE PREDATION REVEALED

Paul Francis Woolston, born on December 9, 1974, and residing at Cornwall Street, Hartlepool TS25 5RY as of 2019, was involved in a disturbing incident involving animal cruelty that shocked the local community. On July 8, 2016, Woolston was recorded in a heinous act where he threw a one-year-old cat named Chester across a road and then callously dumped the still-alive animal into a wheelie bin, leaving it to suffer a potentially fatal fate.

Woolston pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Chester, an act that drew significant attention from animal welfare authorities. Court proceedings revealed that Woolston had physically grabbed Chester by the scruff of the neck and carried him outside before hurling him through the air. According to Woolston’s own account to RSPCA inspectors, his actions were a reaction to Chester attacking his partner’s cat and scratching his hand as he attempted to coax the animal out of its cage.

Neighbours who witnessed the incident recorded Woolston on their mobile phones, capturing footage of him picking up the distressed, twitching cat from the road and then discarding him into a wheelie bin. Prosecutor John Ellwood from the RSPCA stated that Chester might not have been dead when Woolston threw him into the bin. The following day, refuse collectors collected the bin, but Chester’s body was never recovered, preventing a post-mortem examination that could have provided further insights into his condition.

Ellwood condemned Woolston’s actions, emphasizing that the defendant did not check whether Chester was alive or what was wrong with him before abandoning him to die a miserable death. The court heard that Woolston’s cruelty was unprovoked and lacked any remorse or concern for the animal’s welfare.

Chester’s owner expressed deep sadness and described Chester as a loving cat who sought attention and showed no signs of aggression. The owner explained that Chester never growled, scratched, or bit anyone while in their care. They also mentioned that Chester’s fur aggravated health problems faced by Woolston’s partner, which added to the tragedy.

Further complicating the case was the involvement of Woolston’s wife, Victoria Woolston, who was later convicted of stealing tens of thousands of pounds from a vulnerable pensioner. Victoria falsely claimed to Chester’s previous owner that the cat was vicious and needed rehoming. In reality, Woolston had brutally killed Chester, a fact that was concealed through lies and deception. The owner of Chester was contacted by Victoria Woolston, who offered to rehome the cat, but later falsely claimed Chester was rehomed in Seaham after describing him as vicious.

Following the incident, Chester’s owner contacted the RSPCA after learning about the animal’s ordeal. Woolston was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which included 250 hours of unpaid work, along with costs and charges totaling £170. Additionally, Woolston was banned from keeping animals for five years, a ban that expired in February 2022.

In a separate and equally disturbing development, reports from October 2020 reveal that Woolston was again before the courts. This time, he was caught attempting to engage in sexual communication with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Woolston was targeted by the Child Online Safety Team (COST), a vigilante group that operates online to catch predators by posing as minors. Woolston initiated contact in April 2020, sending messages that included suggestions of penetrative sexual activity.

A confrontation video shared online shows a member of COST warning Woolston, stating, ‘You’re going to need a solicitor now,’ as Woolston faces the consequences of his actions. Woolston admitted to the court that he was bored and claimed that his offending would not have happened if he had a woman in his life. He explained that his marriage had broken down, and at the time of the incident, he was living with his mother, feeling lonely and isolated.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The court imposed a 30-month community order, requiring Woolston to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 120 hours of unpaid work. Furthermore, Woolston was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, restricting his online activities and contact with minors to prevent further offenses.