A woman who threw her sister’s pet hamster down the stairs has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Tracey McGregor (28) picked up the pet’s cage and hurled it from an upstairs landing in her stepfather’s home in the Tulloch area of Perth after tempers flared during a drunken argument.
McGregor, Eriskay Place, maintained the cage was empty but, following a long-running trial, Sheriff Robert McCreadie rejected her position.
After statements from witnesses, she was found guilty of causing the protected pet animal unnecessary suffering in Cairn Crescent, by throwing the cage, in which it was enclosed, down the 20ft stairwell.
McGregor was found not guilty of two further charges.
The first alleged that she conducted herself in a disorderly and aggressive manner on October 24 2010 by repeatedly shouting and swearing and the second alleged that she pushed another cage from a piece of furniture.
The pet reportedly died although a police officer called to the scene did not find its body. Despite the offence happening in 2010 the case was only disposed of by Sheriff McCreadie.
He had previously deferred sentence for McGregor to have an operation and for tests to determine whether she was fit to work.
Her solicitor David Holmes said: “I’m pleased to indicate it states in the report Miss McGregor, despite difficulties, is fit to work and willing to carry out work as soon as possible.”
Sheriff McCreadie said: “It is clear it was a nasty incident on your part and you have a previous record which includes assault.”
He sentenced her to a community payback order including an element in which she must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
During the trial, McGregor claimed the incident escalated after she “saw red” because her 17-year-old sister placed her pet hamster on her lap.
She said: “I hate hamsters I’m petrified of them so I immediately brushed it off with the back of my hand.”