RICHARD GILES OF ADBER DROWNED NEIGHBOUR'S CAT IN SHERBORNE - COURT HEARS

Richard Frank Giles, a resident of Adber Court in the village of Adber near Sherborne, was convicted in 2021 of a disturbing act involving a neighbor's pet cat. The court heard that Giles, a retired businessman born in April 1951, deliberately drowned a tabby cat named Ruby and subsequently disposed of her body in a ditch.

Giles's actions were driven by his frustration and annoyance with Ruby, who was causing him trouble on his property. The incident unfolded after Ruby had been causing a nuisance by entering Giles's garden, which he and his late wife Judy had cultivated as a wildlife sanctuary. Giles was particularly upset because Ruby was attacking birds and damaging his seed beds, which he considered a significant disturbance.

The situation escalated on September 19, 2020, when Giles discovered Ruby in his kitchen after he had left some food out. In a moment of anger, he caught her and ended her life by drowning her in his water butt. The court was told that Giles later dumped her body in a ditch, an act that shocked and distressed the community.

Shirley Gear-Evans, the owner of Ruby, expressed her anguish during the proceedings. When she inquired about her missing cat after two days of searching, Giles bluntly responded, “you won’t find her. I’ve killed her.” Later, Giles blamed Ms. Gear-Evans for Ruby’s death, claiming that she should have trained the cat not to chase birds. He also criticized her for adopting Ruby from a rescue center, implying that her failure to train the cat contributed to the incident.

Prosecutor Matthew Knight revealed that Giles had a falling out with Ms. Gear-Evans after discovering she had taken in a rescue cat for her retirement. On September 21, 2020, Ms. Gear-Evans encountered Giles and asked about Ruby’s whereabouts. He responded with the chilling admission that he had killed her, adding that he had tried to call her on September 19 to inform her of his actions, but the call was blocked.

Veterinary expert Katrina Knill testified that Ruby would have experienced severe stress during her drowning. She described the process as causing extreme suffering, with the animal thrashing and struggling as water entered her airway, leading to a distressing death that continued for about three minutes.

In her victim impact statement, Ms. Gear-Evans, a retired NHS manager, detailed the profound effect the incident had on her life. She stated that she was now considering security measures and was advised by police to seek a civil injunction, as she no longer felt capable of caring for another cat.

Magistrate Richard MacRae emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting the distress caused not only to the owner but also to the wider community. Giles pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. The court sentenced him to a 12-week prison term, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £1,000 in compensation to Ms. Gear-Evans, along with £728 in court costs.

Animal rights advocate Elisa Allen, representing PETA, criticized the leniency of the sentence, describing the decision not to imprison Giles as a mistake that could have dangerous consequences. She argued that individuals who harm animals in such a manner should face immediate incarceration and be barred from future contact with animals, to prevent further suffering and protect the community.