Gecko killed in kitchen blender at house party

● Two men told to demonstrate regret by volunteering at Scottish SPCA

Two men who killed a family’s pet geckos in a “chillingly evil” act have been told they can avoid jail if an animal charity wrote a positive letter about them.

Daniel Innes, 20, and Jordan Mcisaac, 18, lifted the two lizards out of their cage and killed them while they were at a house party at Amanda Bibby’s Aberdeenshire home.

One of the geckos fell to his death and the other one was shredded in a kitchen blender in March last year.

The crime was filmed on Miss Bibby’s 17-year-old son Dylan’s phone as he slept in the house in Aberchirder.

Miss Bibby, 33, came home early from a weekend trip to Ballater to find her house wrecked after Innes, of Inverurie, caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Innes and Mcisaac were due to be dealt with at Banff Sherif Court yesterday but Sheriff Philip Mann deferred sentence for three months for the men to be of good behaviour and show they were “truly remorseful”.

Sheriff Philip Mann told them the crime involving the deaths of the two geckos could be described as “chillingly evil” adding that it was a “matter of great concern”. He said: “You’ve given me one of the most difficult cases I’ve yet to deal with on the bench and I’ve been on the bench for about 11 years.”

The sheriff advised the men to think of a way to demonstrate that they regretted their actions towards the animals. He suggested they contact the Scottish SPCA animal welfare charity to ask if there was anything they could do to make amends.

Innes and Mcissac, of Cornhill, near Banff, were told that if they returned to court with a positive letter from the charity the sheriff would refrain from sending them to jail.

However, following the hearing, the charity stressed that the youths would not be allowed to work with animals in their care.

Miss Bibby said: “To even suggest that they volunteer with the Scottish SPCA charity is disgusting.

“It’s no wonder that kids and adults do what they like.”

The mother-of-two said her 12-year-old daughter Alisha was upset when she told her what happened in court.

The men both previously admitted a charge of causing the two geckos unnecessary suffering on 5 March last year.

Innes also pled guilty to malicious damage by punching and kicking walls and doors and throwing furniture about.

Sheriff Mann recommended that Innes got back in contact with the family and offered to pay for the damage.

0 The gecko’s death was filmed on the mobile phone of the homeowner’s 17-year-old son

Lawyer Stuart Beveridge said his client was “absolutely disgusted” by his behaviour that weekend.

Defence solicitor Leonard Burkinshaw described his own client Mcissac as a young man who had been doing a lot of partying and drinking for a short period of time and had now changed his lifestyle.

Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We are pleased to see that Mcisaac and Innes have been dealt with by the court.

“Due to the horrific nature of their crime it would not be appropriate for them to volunteer with the Society.”