Some people think they can get away with all sorts of horrible things, but they all need to think again. We live in a time of cameras, cameras, everywhere, and not simply security cameras (like this one), but on cell phones and even the old digital point and shoot has a video option.

In the UK, 45 year old Mary Bale stopped to pet her neighbour’s friendly kitty, and then, without provocation, picked the cat, Lola, up by the scruff of the neck and dropped her into her owner’s wheelie bin, and then walked off.

Lola was trapped in the rubbish bin for 15 long hours before being found by her frantic owners.

This case became the centre of world-wide media attention when the owners posted video footage of the incident on youtube and facebook in an effort to find the person responsible.

Bale was fined 250 pounds, plus a 15 pound victim surcharge as well as 1,171 pounds in costs. She’s also been banned from owning an animal for the next 5 years.

While Lola was not hurt, the judge said the potential to have harmed the cat was huge, as Bale had no idea if the bin contained broken glass, or how long the cat would be in there, or when garbage pick up was.

We’re so glad Lola is fine, and we hope this will stand as a deterrent to others.

Read the whole article from the Guardian UK here.