Great Britain
20 animals killed in burglary: punishment for children in London
Ferrets were also stolen during the break-in at an environmental school (symbolic image). photo
© Ann-Marie Utz/dpa
Two boys stole ferrets and killed rabbits and birds during a break-in at an environmental school. The judge says the surveillance camera videos are too bad to watch.
They broke into an environmental school and killed more than 20 animals: two boys aged eleven and twelve are in London was convicted of animal cruelty and criminal damage. “It’s terrible what you did, absolutely terrible,” said Judge Lynn Green.
The surveillance camera videos are too bad to watch. The boys are lucky they aren’t adults yet, Green said. “Otherwise you would have been imprisoned for a long time.” In England, criminal responsibility begins at ten years.
During the break-in in February, the boys stole several animals from their enclosures and cages, including ferrets, guinea pigs and three snakes. Rabbits and birds were also killed. A barn owl escaped but was later recovered. The damage was around 10,000 pounds (around 11,700 euros). The 11-year-old’s defense attorney said the boys just wanted to play with the animals and were “extremely remorseful.”
The judge ruled that the children must attend regular meetings with social workers along with their parents for a year. She also imposed a £200 fine, for which the parents are liable. “This is your crime, your punishment, not your parents’,” Green said. “You have to do something to pay them back, whatever they ask of you.”