'Animal lover' threatened to kill family pets

Thatcham teenager sent chilling voicemail

A TEENAGER described as an “animal lover” threatened to kill the family pets, Newbury magistrates heard.

And Charlie Clucas-Slade’s mother took the threat seriously, believing he was “perfectly capable” of carrying it out, the court was told.

Helen Waite, prosecuting last Thursday, said that the 19-year-old, of Foxhunter Way, Thatcham, had been getting “more and more out of hand, according to his mother Lisa”. She blamed it on his use of cannabis.

She added: “He had started becoming obstructive and demanded money from her.”

On this occasion, Mr Clucas-Slade was annoyed that his mother’s friend, Jamie Tudgay, had left pet parrots in his room.

He sent him a voicemail message threatening to kill “every single animal” in the property if they were not removed, magistrates were told.

Mr Clucas-Slade admitted sending a threatening message on August 7.

Mike Davis, defending, asked magistrates to read pre-sentence reports prepared on his client and said: “He never intended to carry out the threat. He is an animal lover.”

Magistrates made Mr Clucas-Slade subject to an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay a £180 criminal courts charge plus a £15 victim surcharge. No order was made for costs.