LONDON—A British woman who microwaved a kitten to death in an act of revenge was jailed for 168 days Wednesday.
Gina Robins, 31, put the 10-week-old, black and white pet in the microwave after its owner reported the mother of three’s abusive partner to the police.
Robins, from Torquay on the southwest English coast, was found guilty of animal cruelty in a one-day trial last month.
On February 15 last year, she microwaved the kitten while at the home of its owner Sarah Knutton — days after her then-friend had reported an incident to police involving Robins’ partner outside the same house.
“We have seen little remorse for the death of the kitten or the trauma caused to your former friend,” said chairwoman of the bench Liz Clyne.
“We have taken into account that you have no previous convictions. Nevertheless we are sending you to prison for a total of 168 days.
“You will be disqualified from keeping animals for a period of 10 years.”
During the trial, magistrates were told that Knutton heard a noise “like a crisp packet being popped”, followed by a loud “screeching”.
Knutton found the kitten dead in the microwave and then vomited in the sink.
Robins sent her a text message the following day, ending their friendship and saying:
“Remember the saying ‘What goes around comes around’? It has started already to bite you.
“The cat? Karma.”
Robins claimed the microwave, which starts automatically when the door shuts, was accidentally turned on by another cat.
But magistrates found her evidence “far-fetched” and “inconsistent”.