LARA TRAYNIER

WOMAN WHO LEFT CATS TO STARVE SENTENCED IN GRIMSBY

A woman was banned from owning animals for life after she left her three cats to die in squalor when she moved out of her home.

Lara Traynier, 23, was sentenced at Grimsby Magistrates' Court on September 1, after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences.

The bodies of two decomposing cats, known as Cloudy and Poppy, were discovered by workers clearing a rental property in Macaulay Way, Grimsby in July 2024.

The local authority contacted the RSPCA and the cats were removed.

Two weeks later, during further clearance, a third cat named Babe was found dead under a sofa.

A video shown at court by RSPCA inspector Laura Barber depicted a neglectful environment filled with rubbish, faeces, and flies.

Inspector Barber described seeing empty cat food sachets with evidence of cats attempting to eat, along with litter trays filled with urine and faeces and no water bowls.

The veterinarian examining the cats’ remains reported severe emaciation and the presence of fleas, flea dirt, and bluebottle flies, indicating neglect and poor health at death.

Following her sentencing, Laura Barber expressed that the situation was very sad and urged pet owners to seek help if unable to care for their animals.

The court noted her early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and mitigating factors like drug misuse and mental health issues.

She received a six-month suspended jail sentence for 24 months, was ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities, disqualified from owning animals indefinitely (no appeal possible for 10 years), and was fined £600 with a surcharge of £154.