A cat thief, who deliberately coaxed two beloved pets into his car - tempting the moggies with treats - is facing three-and-a-half years imprisonment for his cruel crime, a court heard today.
Cyrus Caught Stealing Tilly
Carlos Cyrus, 30, is already locked-up for drugs and firearms offences after his parole was cancelled for stealing the cats.
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.
Staines-upon-Thames Magistrates’ Court previously heard Surrey Police suspect Cyrus, of Leeward House, Southall used the pets as bait in the illegal world of ferocious dog-fishing
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.
“I adjourned this case with great reluctance last week when he refused to come,” said Deputy District Judge Adrian Turner. “The authorities have determined not to force him to come as they should.”
 |
| Stolen: Tilly, 15 |
Cyrus is incarcerated at HMP Wandsworth until 2027.
“It is to my frustration I cannot add anything to what this man is serving. I cannot pass a consecutive sentence,” added the judge.
“He was only released from that sentence in March, this year. It did not take him long to get onto this.
“The Probation Service pre-sentence report recommends a Community Order. How on earth can it do that when he is serving a sentence of imprisonment?”
The Crown Prosecution Service submitted an appropriate sentence for the offences is three-and-a-half years imprisonment, given the devastating effect the crimes have had on the cats’ owners and the pets themselves.
“Even if he got three-and-a-half years it would not have any material effect on the time he is serving inside,” explained Judge Turner.
However, prosecutor Sunil Mehta suggested such a sentence would add a few months to Cyrus’ overall time behind bars.
“He has chosen not to come though. There is no reason this case cannot go to the Crown Court is there?
“This is in the top category of harm and is of high culpability. There is substantial sentimental value to the cats’ families.”
Cyrus’ lawyer Hanisha Godhania submitted: “I would seek to argue it is lower in the sentencing guidelines and was opportunistic instead of pre-planned.
“It is not targeted against these particular cat owners or animals and I cannot come up with a value for the cats.”
Cyrus was remanded in custody to Guildford Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
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.
Last week, prosecutor Lucy Lumsden told the court: “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.
“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.
“He was arrested for these cat thefts after a probation appointment and there is abundant evidence there was planning and he refused to answer questions,” announced Judge Turner.
“This was also done using a hired vehicle, maybe that is a coincidence, but I doubt it.
“There was considerable planning and a degree of sophistication and he even had medication in case he got scratched or bitten.
“He had only just come out of prison and there are serious offences of violence on his record.”
Unfortunately any custodial sentence for the cat thefts cannot be added consecutively to the prison term Cyrus is already serving.
“He is not a first-time offender. He is a violent criminal.
“He might just be honest about what he did with these cats and put their owners out of the misery of not knowing.”
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.
