Published at 16:49, Tuesday, 24 July 2012

A father-of-three who drank 16 cans of lager in his garden shed killed a pet guinea pig by hurling it against the wall of his house in front of his three horrified children.

Stephen Briggs

Stephen Briggs, 31, lost his temper after one of his children - aged seven, 10, and 11 - burst into his shed at Sewell Road, Currock, Carlisle. He then threw an Xbox games console against a door, breaking a window.

At the city’s magistrates’ court, Briggs pleaded guilty to causing a protected animal unnecessary suffering and to criminal damage.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, described how the defendant, who owns several guinea pigs, had started drinking lager in his shed at 2pm on July 12, polishing off eight cans before going out to get another 10. By 6pm, he had only two cans left and was drunk, said Mrs Ward.

“When one of the children entered the shed he became angry and then left the shed holding one of the guinea pigs, which he threw against the house wall,” said the prosecutor. “It didn’t die straight away."

Realising that the three children were upset, the defendant’s partner came out into the garden.

When a police officer arrived, he saw one of the children holding the injured guinea pig, which moved slightly and then died.

“The mother of the children outlined what had happened but declined to make a formal written statement,” said Mrs Ward.

When interviewed by police, Briggs said he had been drunk after consuming 16 cans of lager but he then became very upset, admitting that he had killed the guinea pig while the children were there.

In court, Briggs, now living at Maltby Court, Guisborough, Cleveland, blamed his actions on his drinking, saying: “I was in the wrong.”

He said he was now living with his parents and worried that his children might think he was evil. He added that he hopes to go back to his wife and family.

The case was adjourned for reports and Briggs will be sentenced on Monday, August 13.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk