TERRANCE BLANCH'S CRUELTY IN NORTHAMPTON: CAT TRAPPED AND INJURED IN HIS GARDEN

Terrance Blanch, a resident of Northampton, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal after an incident involving his neighbor’s cat, Lilith. The incident took place in Blanch’s garden on Bourne Crescent, Northampton NN5 7JD, where he had set up a wire trap intended to catch rats and rabbits. Unfortunately, this trap also ensnared Lilith, a long-haired cat belonging to Michelle Batchelor, who lives just a few doors away from Blanch.

According to court records, Lilith had gone missing on two separate occasions, once in November 2014 and again in December 2015. On both occasions, Ms. Batchelor reported hearing her cat crying from behind the fence of Blanch’s garden. When she looked over the fence, she saw Lilith trapped inside a cage, which prompted her to knock on Blanch’s door. Each time, Blanch agreed to release the cat, indicating that he was aware of her presence and the situation.

The prosecution, led by Ms. Janita Patel, revealed that Blanch had previously received warnings from the RSPCA regarding the use of traps or snares in his garden. Despite these warnings, in February 2016, Lilith once again went missing. Ms. Batchelor, hearing her cat’s cries behind Blanch’s fence, looked over and discovered Lilith caught in a wire snare. She immediately contacted both the RSPCA and the police for assistance.

Ms. Batchelor recounted that when she saw Lilith, she was hissing and crying, and appeared injured. She described her attempt to free Lilith, noting that the cat was wrapped tightly around her waist in a wire snare that did not loosen. Ms. Batchelor managed to carefully remove Lilith from the trap, after which the cat was taken to a veterinarian. The vet administered painkillers and antibiotics, checked for internal injuries, and confirmed that Lilith had physically recovered. However, Ms. Batchelor expressed her distress, stating that her cat was now significantly more fearful of going outside.

Expressing her horror at the incident, Ms. Batchelor said, “I feel absolutely horrified that one of my cats has been caught in this way, not only a cage but also a snare.”

During his interview with the RSPCA, Blanch claimed that he set the snares and traps to prevent rats and rabbits from entering his garden’s aviary. He stated that he did not intend to catch cats and admitted he was unaware of legislation prohibiting the use of such traps or the requirement to check them daily. When asked about measures to deter cats from entering his garden, Blanch responded, “You don’t want to know.”

As a result of his actions, Blanch was sentenced to a two-year community order and ordered to pay fines, costs, and charges totaling £560. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of causing harm to protected animals and highlights the importance of responsible pet and wildlife management in Northampton.