Emma Parker: Drug Addict Jailed After Cutting Up & Eating Pet Hamster
A woman who cut her pet hamster Mr Nibbles in half while it was still alive before eating it has been jailed for 12 months after the entire incident was captured on video.
The RSPCA launched an investigation after sickening video footage of the attack carried out by 39-year-old Emma Parker was shared online.
Lincoln Crown Court heard how two videos filmed at Parker's home were sent to the RSPCA by a concerned member of the public.
The first video showed Parker prodding a large knife into a hamster ball containing Mr Nibbles and then cutting the still-alive animal in half.
The second video showed Parker holding a bottle of water and then eating the two dissected halves of the now-dead hamster.
In one of the videos, a woman who is off-camera can be heard laughing as Parker ate the defenceless animal.
Gordon Holt, prosecuting, told the court: "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****** you are.'
"The hamster can be heard repeatedly squealing, it is allowed to escape and runs around for a while.
"The defendant attempts to strike it with the knife, successfully at least once.
"She pinches its neck to keep it still.
"It is 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."
Parker told police that she only did what she did as she was helping the hamster to die after it had been bitten by one of her dogs earlier in the day.
Parker admitted that the incident took place at her home last May, but refused to name those who recorded the video, telling police "they are not nice people."
Parker pleaded guilty to one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court heard how in both 2021 and 2022, Parker had been handed community orders for shoplifting and had a long history of drug addiction.
Emma Parker, of Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for 12 months and banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
Judge James House said the level of violence that was inflicted on a defenceless animal for the entertainment of others was "abhorrent".
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."
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