Man who kicked pet rabbit injured in prison attack

A Washington man who kicked a pet rabbit eight yards across a garden later found himself the victim of severe violence during a spell behind bars, a court heard.

- by Gareth Crickmer

Jack Morgan, 27, and an associate grabbed the bunny by the neck and threw it when it got in their way as they tried to break into a house in Birtley, Gateshead.

When it hopped back, Morgan, of Cleveland Drive, Lambton, booted it with “significant force”, prosecutor Marcus Blakelock said.

He was jailed for 24 weeks after admitting attempted burglary, but a charge of animal cruelty was not brought until later.

While behind bars, fellow inmates threw boiling water mixed with sugar in his face, blinding him in an eye and deafening him in an ear.

In a twist of fate, the rabbit was uninjured by his brutality on Thursday, February 6, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.