ABIGAIL CLEMSON AND THOMAS WEBSTER HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN WOLVERHAMPTON AND WILENHALL
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Abigail Clemson, aged 29, of Astoria Close, Willenhall, and Thomas Webster, aged 29, of Arps Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton, have been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a defenseless animal.The incident took place across the Wolverhampton and Willenhall areas, highlighting a grave case of neglect and cruelty.
According to court reports, the pair abandoned a one-year-old black cat in an empty flat, leaving it without access to food or water for an extended period.
The cat was discovered in a severely weakened state, collapsed and covered in faeces and urine, when an RSPCA inspector visited Clemson’s former residence.
The inspector, Kate Levesley, described the scene as haunting, revealing that the animal had been suffering for 'several weeks' before its tragic discovery.
Veterinary examinations confirmed the worst fears: the cat, which had not been given a name by its neglectful owners, was emaciated to the point of being skin and bones.
Weighing just over 2 pounds (approximately 1 kilogram), the animal was in such a critical condition that it was euthanized to prevent further suffering.
The vet’s assessment indicated that the animal had endured prolonged starvation and dehydration, conditions that could have been avoided had proper care been provided.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that the cat had been left behind at Clemson’s flat while she was spending increasing amounts of time at Webster’s residence in Wolverhampton.
Both individuals were charged and subsequently convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
The court heard that Clemson had pleaded guilty to the offence, while Webster was found guilty following a trial held in October 2015.
Inspector Levesley expressed her distress over the case, stating, “The sight of the cat collapsed behind the door still haunts me.
This was Clemson’s flat, but they started spending more time at Webster’s place in Wolverhampton.
How long they thought the kitten could go without food, I don’t know.
There is absolutely no excuse for something like this to happen.
The cat would have suffered a lot and was in such a bad way that he very sadly did not survive.” The court sentenced Thomas Webster to a 12-month community order and ordered him to pay £510 in costs.
Abigail Clemson received a similar sentence, with a 12-month community order and costs amounting to £560.
Additionally, both individuals were banned from keeping any animals for a period of 15 years, a ban that will remain in effect until December 2030.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare and the devastating consequences of neglect and cruelty in the Wolverhampton and Willenhall areas.
