Louth man guilty of causing ‘unnecessary suffering’ to hamster

Byron David Toyne, 35, of Keddington Road, was accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – namely a pet hamster called Nibbles – by throwing and shaking the small animal in Louth on November 7 last year.

Toyne was also charged with committing criminal damage to a bicycle wheel, art box, leaning board and canvas picture belonging to a woman in the town on the same day.

Toyne appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on August 18, where he pleaded guilty to both of the charges.

He was sentenced to a community order which includes a work requirement of 170 hours unpaid work within the next 12 months.

Toyne was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, and court costs of £85.