THOMAS WADE HORRIFIC PET TORTURE IN HARTLEPOOL AND STOCKTON-ON-TEES

Thomas Wade, a man with a disturbing history of cruelty, was involved in a heinous act of animal abuse that shocked the community in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. Born on March 2, 1993, Wade, who previously resided on Mellor Street in Stockton-on-Tees, had by September 2020 moved into an NHS care facility located on Park Avenue in Hartlepool, TS26 0DZ. Despite his relocation, his dark actions left a lasting scar on the local area.

Wade, who has earned the nickname 'Evil Tom' due to his brutal treatment of animals, subjected his pet cat, Sweetie, to a series of horrific tortures. The attack was reportedly triggered after Sweetie disobeyed Wade, who claimed in court that he was hearing voices from a WWE wrestler named Kane at the time. The cruelty inflicted upon Sweetie was both prolonged and severe, including being placed inside a hot oven, flushed down a toilet, strangled with a TV cord, and violently thrown against walls.

During the investigation, Wade was recorded making disturbing voice recordings in which he detailed his actions and declared, 'No one can be more evil than myself.' These recordings revealed his chilling mindset and the extent of his depravity. Remarkably, despite the brutal abuse, Sweetie survived the ordeal but was left with severe injuries, including third-degree burns that necessitated hospitalization.

Wade pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal during his court appearance at Teesside Magistrates' Court. Prosecutor Stuart Haywood explained that Wade, who is described as a loner with learning difficulties and autism, had received Sweetie as a gift from his sister. The intention was for the cat to be a companion for Wade during a three-week trial period before potential adoption.

However, on October 8, 2019, Wade visited his sister's home and told her that he no longer wanted the cat. His sister then went to Wade's residence, where she immediately detected a strong smell of burning. Upon entering, she found Wade sitting on a settee with Sweetie, who was wet and breathing rapidly. Wade refused to explain the situation initially, but fur was later discovered in Wade's oven. After further questioning, Wade finally admitted to the horrific acts, stating that it 'felt good' to do so.

Following this revelation, Wade's sister contacted the RSPCA, and Sweetie was taken to a veterinarian. The cat was found to be in a terrible condition, suffering from significant skin damage and extensive third-degree burns. The injuries were so severe that Sweetie had to be hospitalized for treatment.

The police quickly became involved, and Wade was arrested in connection with the abuse. During subsequent investigations, authorities uncovered rambling voice recordings in which Wade described the attack in detail. One of these recordings, lasting eight minutes, included him saying, 'No one can be more evil than myself,' and expressing a desire to 'rip out its tongue' after witnessing Sweetie struggle while being 'choke slammed.'

In police interviews, Wade admitted to throwing Sweetie against four walls and explained that he carried out the violence partly because he believed he was hearing voices from the WWE character Kane. His attitude towards the crime was disturbingly remorseless, as he told officers that 'she had not suffered enough.' Wade also described placing the terrified cat in the oven on high for five minutes after throwing her against a wall, claiming that she disobeyed his commands not to go under his bed.

Although Wade has no diagnosed mental health issues, he does have learning difficulties, which his defense argued contributed to his actions. Defense lawyer Matthew Agar described the incident as 'shocking' and expressed concern for Wade's mental state, suggesting he might have a 'split-personality.' Wade had recently moved from Grimsby to Teesside and was known to go weeks without contact with others.

District Judge Helen Cousins sentenced Wade to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered six months of mental health treatment, 30 days of rehabilitation activities, and an 18-week hospital curfew. Additionally, Wade was fined £440 in costs, and a ban was imposed preventing him from owning pets for ten years, which will expire in 2030. The case has left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the importance of animal welfare and mental health awareness in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees.