Frank Lewis, a sadistic and dangerous teenager, broke into a cat sanctuary in Wales and stole ten cats in a cage. He cut their legs to make them lame so that his hunting dogs could catch them. Three cats were mauled to death in different places near the Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary. Four cats were found alive. Three are missing presumed dead.
The judge said that:
“You then broke into a cat sanctuary and stole ten cats. You used them as bait for your dogs. They are acts of great cruelty amounting to sadism”
The prosecution said in the trial that Lewis has…
“extreme right-wing views on race and sexuality”
Theresa Ahmed, the sanctuary owner said:
“The burglary has changed my life for ever. The sickening realisation that cats were missing and what had happened to them will remain with me for the rest of my life.”
Ms Ahmed had built the sanctuary in the grounds of her home in 1990. She had fallen when searching for her cats and hurt her back. She may have damaged her spine.
Before his act of sadism on rescue cats, Lewis had strung a sheep upside down from a tree and then beheaded it with a machete. An accomplice had taken a photo of himself and the sheep which he posted on Facebook. The desire to show off one’s criminal behavior on Facebook seems to be trending. Think of Kristen Lindsey.
Lewis pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. I am not sure why ‘criminal damage’ is referred to except that cats are treated as chattels under the law but the Animal Welfare Act 2006 would have allowed a prosecution for animal cruelty rather criminal damage. This must have been a technical issue.
He was sentenced to 30 months in a young offenders institution. As I understand it this sentence allows Lewis to lawfully hide his conviction from employers, and others, five years after his release from prison. In addition the vast majority of criminals in the UK only serve half their sentence before being released on license. I don’t know if this will apply in this instance.
Personally I’d argue that he deserves 5 years behind bars. And five years should mean just that. He should also receive treatment – lots of it. He is likely to hurt animals again if he has a psychiatric disorder.
Frank Lewis will go down in history as one of the infamous animal abusers.
This person absolutely horrifies me. Literally. These acts of barbaric cruelty sound insane. I do not think he is fit to live within the world. Where to keep him? I do not know. Can a person like this ever rehabilitate? I think it is highly unlikely. Is an awakening or an enlightenment even possible? Sending prayers for all the souls that he has tortured and sacrificed.
This worries me to, Frances, because he’ll be out of prison and his conviction will be erased from the public eye at some stage. I agree that he will probably be a permanent danger to animals if not people as well. Something more that a 30 months sentence is needed.
This is where government agencies fall short. What are we, as citizens and animal protectors, supposed to do? Where do we turn? This will slip through the cracks. He will be back in circulation, along with thousands of others around the world. This is definitely a valid concern, for the safety of animal and humans as well. I am literally physically ill when I read of torture and cruelty, espaecially to helpless animals.
I feel the same way. I wrote about an animal abuse registries in the USA:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/?s=animal+abuse+register&x=0&y=0
There are some and they seem to be catching on. Registries might help to keep this sort of individual from disappearing and resurfacing having committed another ghastly crime.
Reading about this stuff creates a feeling of extreme sadness in me, and despair about the brutality done to animals and humans by extremely mentally ill people.
What saddens me even more is that the US will now be run by not just a mentally ill president, but his ill suited cabinet as well.
I fear for the upcoming loss of lives through torture of animals, and people with lack of health care.
I’m not proud to be an American, and glad that I’m “circling the drain” and will be leaving this place behind in the not too distant future. At 73, I’m hoping it’s not too far in the future, but until then, I’ll continue to make pet guardians aware of how we ourselves are making our pets die early deaths, so unnecessarily from lack of knowledge, and relying on vets.
I will remain a CAT Advocate until I no longer can. I so appreciate Michael’s huge contribution to knowledge and awareness.
If and when I’m able to create a good amount of money, you can guess who’s going to benefit…
Thanks Sandy. I don’t like posting sad stories but they are there and they shed light on human behavior in relation to animals.
I think you are correct about Trump. He is bad for animal welfare. We need an animal advocate as president.
Possibly there will be a separate charge for animal cruelty. However criminal damage carries far heavier penalties and that is what is needed. Also the dogs should be destroyed as they remain a danger to cats and small animals.
Yes, you are probably right. There was a choice and I think the max sentence under the Animal Welfare Act is 52 weeks.