Teen tried to strangle woman and killed hamster
Max Roberts, of Eastfield Road, Peterborough, attacked the woman while she was sitting on a bed playing Xbox.
Police said the 18-year-old elbowed her to the face, attempted to strangle her, and chased her into the kitchen where he punched and kicked her face and body.
At Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, he was given a 32-month term at a Young Offenders Institution.
Det Cons Joshua Crown said: "Roberts behaved despicably, aiming to inflict the most emotional pain possible by killing the victim's hamster."
Cambridgeshire Police said the victim was forced to hand over her mobile phone and keys to Roberts following the attack on 25 November.
The force said that after targeting the hamster and kicking the cage of a second hamster - causing it to shatter - he then told her he would "kill everything she loves".
He eventually left the property and sent a message claiming he would "be back to finish her off", police said.
Roberts admitted intentional strangulation, causing criminal damage to property, failing to prevent the causing of unnecessary suffering to an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He was also issued with a restraining order not to contact the victim and not to visit any address where she may be staying or visiting.
If you have been affected by this story or would like support then you can find organisations which offer help and information at the BBC Action Line.
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Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Police won't file charges against Indy Councilor Nick Roberts after sexual assault accusation
Fishers police have decided not to file charges against Indianapolis City-County Councilor Nick Roberts after a younger woman accused him of sexual assault. An 18-year-old woman alleged that Roberts, 24, groped her during a kiss while she tried to push him away during a July 12 date in downtown Fishers, she told IndyStar in an interview after the allegations were made public by Mirror Indy. Roberts has admitted that he kissed her but denied her account of the events, insisting he did "absolutely nothing wrong." The case was closed the morning of July 30 and Roberts faces no charges, said Angela Adle, a records manager for the Fishers Police Department. IndyStar has filed a public records request for the department's full report on the alleged incident but has not yet received the documents. Roberts, a Democrat representing northeast Marion County who took office in January 2024, said he fully cooperated with the police investigation and is pleased with the outcome. "As I had expected and hoped, the Fishers Police Department, because of their thorough investigation and after looking at all the evidence and facts, have closed the case against me and are not pressing charges," Roberts said in a written statement. "The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind and I am very grateful to law enforcement for looking into serious issues like this and for their professionalism throughout the process. I look forward to continuing my work in the city and serving our district as we enter our budget season." The woman's allegation was first reported by Mirror Indy on July 29. In a July 30 phone interview with IndyStar, the woman reiterated her accusations and called the police department's decision a "letdown." IndyStar does not normally name people who say they are victims of sexual assault. "I knew that there wasn't much that could be done, period, considering there was no witness proof or video proof," said the woman. "It's just been my word against his since the beginning." The allegation against Roberts — lauded by the Indiana Democratic Party as the youngest councilor to win in any major American city in 2023 after his election at just 23 years old — is the latest in a series of sexual misconduct claims made against men involved in city and state government. Most recently, City-County Councilor Keith Graves was accused of physical and sexual assault by a woman 30 years younger than him, according to an IndyStar investigation. Council Democrats have promised to spearhead reforms to the city's sexual harassment policies and reporting systems, including an overhaul of the human resources department and the creation of an inspector general to independently investigate alleged policy violations. Roberts and the woman, who graduated from high school this May, agreed to meet for a first date on July 5 after they matched on the dating app Hinge. After a kiss on their second date a week later in Fishers, the woman filed a police report that same night, she told IndyStar. Both say the first date went well. As they prepared to leave a café in Carmel, Roberts hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. The woman later texted him to say "I especially appreciate the kiss on the cheek," and that she wanted to meet up again soon, according to text messages obtained by IndyStar. "You can get another (and maybe more) next time," Roberts responded, by which he says he meant a kiss on the lips. After two hours had passed, the woman replied, "I hope so, I'd like that:)." She told IndyStar that Roberts' comment had made her uncomfortable, and she had been taken aback by the initial kiss on the cheek. She said she is unfamiliar with dating norms because she was homeschooled and "very sheltered" throughout her teenage years, so she followed his lead. They met a week later, on July 12, for an ice cream date followed by an evening walk along the Nickel Plate Trail in downtown Fishers. She heard no "red flags" during the initial conversation, she said. But during the walk, the woman says that Roberts pulled her off onto a side trail, where he began kissing and groping her while she pushed him away and told him to stop. She claims he grabbed her breasts and her butt and held onto her tightly. He eventually loosened his grip, she said, apparently because someone walked by along the main trail. "He suggested that we have a kiss, but he said it and then it all happened," the woman said. "He didn't give me time to think and so I couldn't do anything. And even if I did have time to think, I'm a freezer and so I wouldn't have been able to do anything." Roberts denies her account of those events, he said. He said he kissed her for only a few seconds and put his hands on her hips. "During the kiss, she did not push me away or ask me to stop," Roberts said in a written statement. "If she had done either, I would have stopped immediately. We then walked for approximately another 30 minutes, and we had a conversation with nothing out of the ordinary." The two walked back to their cars, where Roberts said "she leaned in so I could give her a kiss on her cheek and we said goodnight." The woman says Roberts never hugged her or kissed her at the end of that second date because she stepped back from his attempts. When the woman got home, she says she broke down. Her stepmother encouraged her to call police. Roberts said that officers showed up to his home that same night to pursue her allegations. This story will be updated.
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis councilor Nick Roberts denies claims he groped 18-year-old woman against her will
Another Indianapolis city councilor is pushing back on accusations of sexual misconduct after a woman alleged that he groped her while she tried to push him away during a second date. An 18-year-old woman filed a report with Fishers police accusing City-County Council member Nick Roberts, 24, of grabbing her breasts and butt as she tried to pull away during a kiss on July 12 in downtown Fishers, according to allegations reported by Mirror Indy. Roberts, who has not been charged with a crime, denied the allegations in a Facebook video posted July 29, saying he did "absolutely nothing wrong." "I just wanted to completely deny the allegation of doing anything inappropriate," said Roberts, a Democrat. "Quite frankly, I'm not sure why this slanderous post was made about me, but it's incredibly hurtful not just to me but to my entire family and everyone who knows my character. I was raised to respect all people and I would never engage in unwanted physical contact with a woman without her consent." The allegation against Roberts — lauded by the Indiana Democratic Party as the youngest councilor to win in any major American city after his election in 2023 at just 23 years old — is the latest in a series of sexual misconduct claims made against Democrats in city and state politics. Roberts represents District 4, comprising parts of Castleton and Geist in northeast Marion County. Perhaps the most salient allegations are three women's accounts to IndyStar that Thomas Cook, a former top aide to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, pressured them into unwanted sexual encounters while dangling career growth before them as their superior. Two of the women have also criticized Hogsett himself for sending text messages that made them uncomfortable and allowing Cook to work as an unpaid adviser during a 2023 mayoral campaign despite his knowledge of past issues. More recently, City-County Council member Keith Graves was accused of physical and sexual assault by a woman 30 years younger than him, according to an IndyStar investigation. Council Democrats have promised to make reforms to the city's sexual harassment policies and reporting systems, including an overhaul of the human resources department and the creation of an inspector general to independently investigate alleged policy violations. Critics have said they doubt their intentions, however, after Council President Vop Osili ordered the forcible removal of one Cook accuser from a council meeting. Indy politics: Joe Hogsett wants to move past harassment scandal. Many aren't sure he can The accounts from Roberts and the woman, whom Mirror Indy did not name because she claims she's a victim of sexual assault, are aligned in some respects. But what differs starkly is their interpretation of a kiss during a second date. The two agreed to meet for brunch on July 5 after they matched on the dating app Hinge, Roberts said. Both say the first date went well, according to her text messages and comments to Mirror Indy. As they prepared to leave, Roberts hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. She later texted Roberts to say she "had a really good time" and "especially appreciate[d] the kiss on the cheek," according to Roberts. Roberts responded that she could get another "(and maybe more)" next time, by which he says he meant a kiss on the lips. Although the woman told Mirror Indy the remark made her uncomfortable, she responded, "I hope so, I'd like that :)" — meaning another kiss on the cheek. The two met in downtown Fishers a week later, on July 12, for ice cream and an evening stroll along the Nickel Plate Trail. During that walk, Roberts admits that he kissed her on the lips for a few seconds. The woman claims that Roberts pulled her off onto a side trail, where he began kissing and groping her while she pushed him away and told him to stop. He eventually loosened his grip, she said, apparently because someone walked by along the main trail. Roberts denies her account of those events, he said. He told Mirror Indy that the pair walked onto a side trail and kissed for a few seconds. He claims only to have put his hands on her hips. "While on our walk, because of those text messages, I kissed her on the lips for a few seconds," he said in a written statement reviewed by IndyStar. "During the kiss, she did not push me away or ask me to stop. If she had done either, I would have stopped immediately. We then walked for approximately another 30 minutes, and we had a conversation with nothing out of the ordinary." While Roberts described the following moments as unremarkable, the woman told Mirror Indy she was visibly shaken afterward. When they arrived back at their cars, Roberts said, "she leaned in so I could give her a kiss on her cheek and we said goodnight." The woman decided to file a police report soon after the date. Fishers police told Mirror Indy that the investigation is ongoing and refused to comment further. Roberts said he's cooperating fully with the police investigation and will continue to focus on his work as a councilor. "I have faith in the process and believe the facts will prove my innocence," Roberts said in the Facebook video, "and I remain committed toward working for our council district in the meanwhile."
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
CT man charged with home invasion after allegedly breaking into woman's home, assaulting her
A man faces home invasion and other charges for allegedly breaking into a woman's home in Tolland last week and assaulting her in violation of a protective order issued after a previous incident last year. Gelbert Fuentes, 32, of Hamden was taken into custody Wednesday after being located by officers with the Hamden Police Department, according to Connecticut State Police. He was turned over to troopers who had a warrant for his arrest. Fuentes faces charges of home invasion, disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call, violation of protective order, third-degree assault and second-degree unlawful restraint. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, a woman called police last Thursday to report a domestic disturbance around 8 p.m. but initially would not give authorities the suspect's name after he had left her home. She claimed that she came home and found that the man had smashed an Xbox, and when she confronted him about it she could allegedly smell that he had been drinking, the warrant affidavit said. The woman alleged that he started smashing the Xbox more and shoved her so she called 911, according to the warrant affidavit. Hours later, the woman called police again around 2 a.m. and claimed that the man had returned to her home where he allegedly broke in and assaulted her, the warrant affidavit said. The woman told troopers she was nearly asleep when Fuentes allegedly entered the home and got on top of her, putting pressure on her neck with his forearm, state police wrote. The woman told police he was allegedly upset about being locked out of the home and demanded money back that he had previously given her, the warrant affidavit said. She claimed that he took her phone and smart watch so she could not call police. After letting her off the bed, the woman claimed that Fuentes refused to let her leave the bedroom, allegedly shoving her toward the bed when she tried, according to the warrant affidavit. At one point, she claimed that she started swinging to create space between them, but he allegedly shoved her so hard that her head ended up under the bed, the warrant affidavit said. She claimed that she lied on the ground and cried because she felt trapped. Fuentes, she said, eventually let her out of the room but allegedly would not let her get away from him, according to the warrant affidavit. She alleged that he refused to leave when told to get out and that he allegedly started shoving her again, state police wrote. She said she also thought he was trying to provoke her into hitting him. The woman claimed that Fuentes gave her cell phone back after she was able to get out of the home, the warrant affidavit said. He left the area when he thought she was calling police, she said. The woman later found that Fuentes had allegedly gotten into her home through a garage window, the warrant affidavit said. After leaving for about 20 minutes, she said, Fuentes allegedly returned to the home and tried to get back inside, the warrant affidavit said. He allegedly tried to force the basement door open and then began knocking on the front door repeatedly, according to the warrant. The woman said she called 911 after Fuentes was allegedly able to get in through the back door and enter her bedroom, the warrant affidavit said. When troopers arrived, they found Fuentes' vehicle parked outside but no sign of him, state police wrote in the warrant. Police also found that he was issued two protective orders in May 2024 following an incident that the woman described as the first time he allegedly 'got physical' with her, the warrant affidavit said. She said he was arrested. The orders that were put in place prohibited Fuentes from assaulting the woman, contacting her or going to her home, the warrant affidavit said. Troopers used a K-9 to search the home, but Fuentes could not be found. They also tried conducting a track outside with no luck. According to the warrant affidavit, the woman declined to go to a hospital. Troopers took multiple photos of injuries seen on her arms. State police made a safety plan with the victim, who told troopers her juvenile daughter was in the home but had slept through everything that had happened. The woman was able to email a video to troopers that allegedly showed a struggle between her and Fuentes, the warrant affidavit said. Fuentes was held on a $150,000 bond and was expected to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday.
