SHAUN HEWSON FROM LOUTH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CAT ABUSE IN LINCOLNSHIRE

In July 2011, Shaun Hewson, a resident of Louth in Lincolnshire, committed a brutal and unprovoked act of animal cruelty that shocked the local community and drew significant legal attention. Hewson, born on July 25, 1985, targeted a family of cats during a gathering at the home of Frances Ashman, the cats’ owner. The attack involved violent and deliberate harm inflicted upon a mother cat named Stewie, who was just one year old, and her four young kittens, all approximately four weeks old at the time.

According to court reports, the assault occurred during a drinking session at Miss Ashman’s residence. Hewson, who at the time was employed as a binman for East Lindsey District Council, exhibited a disturbing level of aggression towards the animals. Witnesses described how he kicked Stewie, the mother cat, with such force that he lifted her off the ground as if she were a football, doing so without any apparent provocation. Miss Ashman intervened, telling Hewson, “Don’t kick my cat,” to which he responded with a chilling declaration: “I hate cats. You know I hate cats.” Despite her pleas for him to leave, Hewson refused and instead declared his intent to demonstrate his hatred for the animals.

Hewson then proceeded to the area where the four kittens were sitting. In a calculated and malicious act, he stamped on two of them, named Maddie and Bella. The severity of his actions was evident in the injuries sustained by the kittens. One suffered a fractured hind leg and a hemorrhage, while the other sustained a fractured skull. Hewson’s grim statement to Miss Ashman after the attack was, “That’s how much I hate cats,” underscoring the brutality of his actions.

Miss Ashman later expressed her distress and outrage, stating, “The cats had done nothing to harm Shaun all night. This was a cool, calm, calculated attack. I have no doubt he meant to kill those kittens. He clearly has something wrong with him to do something like this.” Her account highlighted the premeditated nature of the assault and the cruelty involved.

During the legal proceedings, Hewson’s lawyer attempted to deny that his client was an “animal hater,” but acknowledged that Hewson had issues with binge drinking, which he had been working to control since the incident. The court sentenced Hewson to a 14-week prison term suspended for a period, along with 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £400 in compensation to Miss Ashman for the loss and distress caused, and £85 in court costs. As part of the sentence, Hewson was also subjected to a five-year ban on keeping animals, a restriction that expired in 2016.

This case drew attention from Pet Abuse UK, highlighting the severity of animal cruelty and the importance of holding offenders accountable for such heinous acts.