Woman sent ex-lover video of her killing his pet fish
Left with five children and several animals, Serena Reynoldson filmed herself pouring bleach in tank
A SPURNED woman sent her ex-lover a video of her killing his ornamental fish with bleach after accusing him of having an affair, a court has heard.
Serena Reynoldson, 35, was furious that John Fitzpatrick had left her to deal with five children and the family pets after he moved out of their home.
Footage was shown in court of a furious Reynoldson, of Witney, Oxon, pouring the liquid into a fish tank. In a serious of angry videos sent to Mr Fitzpatrick over messaging service Whatsapp, she could be heard taunting him saying: “Look, they’re drinking it. Die, die, die and die.”
After her arrest, she claimed in a police interview that she did not know what the liquid was and she did not know what the consequences would be.
Mr Fitzpatrick had moved out after Reynoldson accused him of having an affair, Oxford magistrates’ court was told. She said she had been suffering from stress and anxiety after the end of their four-year relationship, which had been on-off since breaking down in 2013.
Mr Fitzpatrick called police after receiving the videos in January, and the RSPCA were called in.
Reynoldson had already sent him a string of abusive messages prior to filming herself. She could be heard on camera saying: “If I can’t have hobbies or a life, you can’t have them either.”
Describing her actions in the video, she went on: “Bleach, right in there, drink it good.
“Look, they’re drinking it. Die, die, die and die. If I can’t have no hobbies or a life, you can’t have them either and I’m not paying for it.”
In a second video, Reynoldson said: “Oh no, they are all dying. Oh no, they are dead, look. Oh no, poor fish.”
Simon White, prosecuting, said: “Levels of bleach required to be fatal would be 1millilitre of bleach per 50litres and it is quite clear there is more than one litre here. There is immediate suffering to the fish, they will have suffered prior to their death.”
In mitigation, the court heard how Reynoldson had been left with five children under the age of 10, a cat, a snake and the tropical fish following the breakdown of her relationship. Af- ter sending Mr Fitzpatrick the bleach videos, she threatened to harm the other animals with rat poison, claiming his pet snake “would be next”.
Yesterday she was spared prison after admitting a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Charlie Moss, defending, said Reynoldson was a victim of domestic abuse and was not drunk at the time.
Ms Moss said: “This is an offence which was not directed at causing harm as such, but over anger at the breakdown of a relationship .... Ms Reynoldson felt that she was having to deal with everything he left behind, including the animals.
“This was not a planned act, it was something that happened out of anger and frustration. She regrets her actions and has taken steps to address her emotional stability.”
Robin Syzmura, the chairman of the bench, handed down a sentence of 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months. An indefinite ban on keeping fish was imposed. Reynoldson must also pay £300 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.