Jail for Great Gonerby woman who cut up and ate pet hamster Mr Nibbles
Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of cruelty to an animal.
A woman who was filmed as she cut up and then ate her pet hamster called Mr Nibbles was today (Wednesday) jailed for 12 months.
Footage of the attack carried out by Emma Parker, 39, was shared online prompting a warning from shocked RSPCA inspectors.
Two videos filmed at Parker's home, in Great Gonerby, were sent to the RSPCA by a concerned member of the public, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
The first video was 27 seconds long and showed Parker repeatedly prodding a large knife into a hamster ball containing Mr Nibbles and then cutting the still alive animal in half.
A second video showed Parker holding a bottle of water and then eating the two dissected halves of the now dead hamster, the court was told.
Gordon Holt, prosecuting, said: "The two videos seen on social media showed the defendant with a hamster in a hamster ball.
"The defendant is holding the ball with a knife in the other hand.
"She takes the knife and plunges it through the opening of the ball moving the knife from side to side.
"A spectator is heard laughing and says 'you are a sick b*****d you are'.
"The hamster can be heard repeatedly squealing, it is allowed to escape and runs around a while.
"The defendant attempts to strike it with the knife, successfully at least once.
"She pinches its neck to keep it still.
"It's still alive and she uses the knife in a chopping and sawing motion over the middle of the hamster's body.
"In the second video the defendant eats the two halves of the dissected body."
During police interview Parker admitted the video was her and claimed she was helping the hamster to die after it had been bitten by one of her dogs earlier in the day.
Parker said the incident took part at her home in mid-May, but refused to name those filming the footage, telling police "they are not nice people".
A vet with 27 years' experience, who watched the footage, described the content as deeply disturbing and said Mr Nibbles would have suffered both physical and psychological damage as hamsters are prey animals which can feel fear.
The vet added that she had never heard a hamster squeal like Mr Nibbles did during the whole of her career.
Parker, of Belvoir Gardens, Great Gonerby, admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court heard Parker had been made the subject of community orders in both 2021 and 2022 for offences of shoplifting, and had a long history of addiction to class A drugs.
Chris Brewin, mitigating, said Parker had been targeted as a result of the video, with her home vandalised and dog faeces put through the letter box.
The court was told she had been "cuckooed" by a drug dealer who lived nearby and was under instruction when she filmed the videos. Cuckooing is a term used to describe an action whereby drug dealers take over a person's home and use it to store or distribute drugs.
Mr Brewin said Parker had also been involved in a recent car crash which left her with burns.
Passing sentence, Judge James House KC told Parker he had to take into account that Parliament had recently raised the maximum sentence for such animal cruelty from six months to five years' imprisonment.
Judge House said it was "abhorrent" that violence had been inflicted on a defenceless animal for others' entertainment.
"The hamster was injured at least twice and then while still alive cut in half," Judge House said.
"You are then seen holding a bottle of water and then eating the two halves of the dissected hamster."
"What is notable from her interview is the refusal to name who else is present and who is videoing the footage," Judge House added.
Judge House also banned Parker from keeping animals for 15 years after telling her he regarded her cruelty as "serious as could be".
After the RSPCA became aware of the video, a spokesperson said: “This is an extremely upsetting video and we'd like to reassure the public that we are investigating and working closely with the police.
"Please do not share it or comment on it as it increases the chances of other people seeing it and being distressed.”
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Andy Bostock said: “We share the public's revulsion at this horrific incident and we'd like to thank the police for their support in this investigation.
“This type of cruelty has no place in today’s society and was a heartless vicious attack on a defenceless animal.
“It has been upsetting and disturbing for everyone who has been involved in this case.”
Two dogs were also removed from Parker's home.
Lincolnshire Police confirmed they arrested a woman on June 23 following the investigation by the RSPCA.
