<p>District judge David Cooper was about to jail 55-year-old Steven Thorne for repeatedly shoplifting alcohol when he changed his mind after being informed about the pet cat. <br /><br />Thorne's lawyer Julie Brice told the Colchester magistrates' court that there was no one to feed the cat, which was trapped indoors as Thorne did not have a cat flap at his home. <br /><br />"She's been at home alone since he was arrested yesterday. She will be climbing the walls with hunger," The Sun Monday quoted Brice as saying.<br /><br />The judge asked: "Is this a good reason not to send him to prison, because he has a cat? I've never heard of that." But he then let Thorne off with a 75 pound fine. <br /><br />The judge ordered Thorne to install a cat flap and said: "Would you kindly think of your cat a bit more before you start shoplifting again."</p>
<p>District judge David Cooper was about to jail 55-year-old Steven Thorne for repeatedly shoplifting alcohol when he changed his mind after being informed about the pet cat. <br /><br />Thorne's lawyer Julie Brice told the Colchester magistrates' court that there was no one to feed the cat, which was trapped indoors as Thorne did not have a cat flap at his home. <br /><br />"She's been at home alone since he was arrested yesterday. She will be climbing the walls with hunger," The Sun Monday quoted Brice as saying.<br /><br />The judge asked: "Is this a good reason not to send him to prison, because he has a cat? I've never heard of that." But he then let Thorne off with a 75 pound fine. <br /><br />The judge ordered Thorne to install a cat flap and said: "Would you kindly think of your cat a bit more before you start shoplifting again."</p>