An Amazon delivery driver who picked up a family’s cat from their garden and walked off with her while making a parcel drop could now face a prison sentence, after pleading guilty to stealing the animal under legislation that treats pet theft as a serious criminal offence.
Catalin Stancu, 42, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court and admitted stealing Nora, a cat belonging to the Crowther family of Elland, near Halifax, on 18 January. Footage from the family’s Ring doorbell captured the moment Stancu delivered a parcel to the property, received no answer at the door, and then picked up the cat from the garden before walking away. He was on site for more than six minutes.
District Judge Alexander Boyd warned Stancu that the offence was too serious to be dealt with by a financial penalty alone, and adjourned sentencing for the preparation of a probation report covering all options including custody. The judge noted that under the Pet Abduction Act 2024, which came into force in England and Northern Ireland in August of that year, stealing a cat or dog is a specific criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of five years. The legislation recognises animals as sentient beings rather than items of property. “This offence was brought in to recognise that a pet is not just property, it is a part of the family,” the judge said.
The Crowther family discovered Nora was missing when Carl Crowther returned home from work and she failed to appear at her usual feeding time. After searching the area without success, the family reviewed their doorbell footage and discovered she had been taken. They shared the footage on social media, where it went viral.
Stancu subsequently messaged the family saying he had their cat, but told them he could not return her because he had forgotten their address. West Yorkshire Police traced and arrested him shortly afterwards. Nora was reunited with the family after three days, and is now back home alongside the family’s other cat, Domino.
In a victim impact statement, the Crowther family described four days of anguish not knowing whether Nora was injured or alive. “Nora is not just a pet, but she is a much loved member of our family,” they told the court. Carl Crowther said the discovery left him in “total shock and disbelief,” adding that the family had been particularly concerned as Nora requires medication for an illness.
Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date pending the probation report.
