Cruel Cat Thief Struck Outside Pet Owners' Homes

Stolen: Beloved Pet Cat Tilly

A heartless cat thief coaxed two beloved pets into his car to use them as bait in cruel, illegal dog-fighting, a court heard yesterday.

Carlos Cyrus, 30, was on parole for firearm and drug-dealing offences when he drove into leafy Surrey with cat treats and snatched the two cats on separate occasions.

He previously pleaded guilty to stealing Tilly, 15, from owner Laura Hunt and Maisie, 17, from Jane McKeown in Chertsey on July 17 and 29.

Both cats have not been seen since and Cyrus, a convicted killer who successfully fought against deportation to his mother’s native Jamaica, refuses to say what happened to them.

Staines Magistrates’ Court heard Cyrus, of 23 Leeward House, Southall, is currently locked-up in HMP Wandsworth after his parole was revoked and his new release date is August, 2027.

He was not produced from custody and will be sentenced on October 14 after the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Cruel Cyrus grabs Tilly

Laura’s Ring doorbell footage, which recorded Cyrus petting family cat Tilly outside her home before picking the moggie up and throwing her into his vehicle was vital in tracking him down.

Surrey Police visited several addresses associated with Cyrus and in one found more cat treats, plus suspicious animal antibiotics for wounds and infections.

Prosecutor Lucy Lumsden told the court: “We say the offence is A1 and according to the guidelines has a starting point of three-and-a-half years imprisonment.”

The police and Crown Prosecution Service have no proof regarding the fate the cats met, but their suspicions were aired to deputy District Judge Adrian Turner.

“There its significant harm. He is stealing cats to supply to people with killing dogs, to be put to their deaths.

“He had cat treats in his car and loitered outside and this was all captured on the Ring doorbell.”

Mother-of-three Laura, who was sitting at the back of the court, burst into tears on hearing Tilly’s probably fate and Ms Lumsden added: “There is an emotional value that the sentencing guidelines allow.

“He has also refused to say where the cats are.”

The court heard Cyrus has convictions for twenty-one offences, including a seven-year sentence for manslaughter when he was twelve years-old.

“It was a gang killing,” said the prosecutor, confirming Cyrus also has convictions for robbery and theft.

In April, 2021 he received six years imprisonment for possessing a handgun and drug supply.

District Judge Turner announced: “The Crown argue for three-and-a-half years due to the distress this has caused, plus the great deal of brutality and callousness.”

Cyrus’ Jamaican mother and Grenadian father had no legal status in this country when Cyrus was born and the Home Office attempted to deport him, but were defeated at the High Court in 2016.

He, his sister and his mother were granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK in January, 2005.

Over two years later in December, 2007 London-born Cyrus received eight months youth detention for robbery; attempted robbery; two assaults and aggravated vehicle taking.

In January, 2009 he was convicted of the manslaughter of a rival gang member and received seven years.

He was released in August, 2011, but was twice recalled to custody for breaching parole.

In August, 2015 Cyrus was served with a deportation notice with one reason the Parole Board’s finding that he continued to pose a “high risk of harm to others.”

The following day he appealed, quoting the European Convention of Human Rights.