Thursday, November 3, 2011

Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3722497.stm

A teenage boy has been given a three-month jail sentence for battering a lamb with a golf club.

The attack was so severe that the animal had to be put down.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that ramblers on the Campsie Fells witnessed Michael Harden, 16, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, carrying out the attack.

The father-of-one told police officers that the attack "was just a bit of fun". Sheriff Hugh Matthews QC said that prison was "the only option".

The incident happened in May last year, hours after the Celtic fan had watched his team lose the league title to Rangers.

Emergency treatment

Harden chased the lamb and hit it twice with his golf club.

He then went after another lamb, which got away, and he returned to the first lamb and hit it twice more.

Harden fled the scene and ramblers called the police.

Vets collected the animal and carried out emergency treatment but the lamb had to be put down.

Judith Hutchinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The lamb suffered two broken legs and a series of internal injuries.

"Vets considered that they were consistent to a severe beating having taken place."

Unemployed Harden had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the lamb in breach of the Protection of Animals act.

The court was told he had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs that evening and that there had been "no reason" for the incident.

The SSPCA said it was an appropriate sentence.
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