Teenager jailed for attack on fiancée in Peterborough
A teenager has been sentenced to 12 months in a young offender institution after attacking his fiancée and killing her pet hamster in Peterborough
A teenager has been sentenced to 12 months in a young offender institution after attacking his fiancée, strangling her, and killing one of her pet hamsters in Peterborough.
The attack happened at the victim’s home in Peterborough in November last year, and the court heard that the teenager threatened to kill everything she loved.
The incident took place on 25 November last year, when the victim was playing Xbox at home. The attacker, 18-year-old Max Roberts of Eastfield Road, Peterborough, elbowed her in the face before grabbing her neck with both hands, cutting off her breathing.
Fearing for her life, the victim ran to the kitchen, where Roberts pushed her to the floor and repeatedly punched and kicked her face and body. She suffered a broken nose, bruising, and was covered in blood.
Roberts then forced her to hand over her mobile phone and keys. He killed one of her hamsters and smashed the cage of the other. He told her, “I’m killing everything you love,” before leaving the property.
Within ten minutes, Roberts returned and dragged the victim to the bathroom to clean her wounds, then left again. Later that day, he sent her a message threatening to “be back to finish her off.”
Roberts admitted intentional strangulation, criminal damage, and causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday 15 May. He was also issued with a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim or visiting any address where she may be.
Detective Constable Joshua Crown said, “Roberts behaved despicably, aiming to inflict the most emotional pain possible by killing the victim’s hamster. To show this level of violence at such a young age is concerning, but I hope Roberts will reflect on his actions during his sentence and never behave this way again.”
Anyone experiencing domestic abuse in Cambridgeshire is encouraged to report it through the police website.