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Kitten Tortured: Couple Jailed for Cruel Abuse
4 Jun
Summary
- A kitten died from multiple injuries after abuse by its owners.
- The male defendant received three and a half years in prison.
- The kitten suffered injuries from at least three separate abuse incidents.
A kitten named Stirling tragically died after enduring a catalogue of injuries from at least three separate incidents of abuse. The six-month-old pet was taken to a vet in Grimsby on February 2, 2026, after experiencing a seizure and collapsing, having coughed up blood. Suspicion was raised due to previous veterinary records from November 2025, indicating prior injuries attributed to a fall.
A post-mortem examination revealed repeated trauma and multiple fractures sustained over different periods. Evidence also suggested attempts to suffocate the cat. Luke Wilcock, 26, was jailed for three and a half years at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday. Morgan Hawksworth, 22, received a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months at the magistrates' court on May 7, 2026.
Both Wilcock and Hawksworth, of Sherwood Road, Grimsby, denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. However, they were convicted in December 2025; Wilcock for two counts and Hawksworth for one. Wilcock received a lifetime ban on owning animals, and Hawksworth was given a 10-year disqualification order.
