### Carmarthenshire Woman Sentenced After Pouring Boiling Water and Bleach on Mice
A woman from Carmarthenshire has faced the courts after carrying out a harrowing act of animal cruelty, which led to the deaths of seven wild mice. The incident, described as both deeply disturbing and avoidable, took place in August last year and has since prompted widespread calls for greater awareness around humane approaches to pest control.
On 20 August 2024, Carys Ann Roberts, aged 28, of Cross Hands Road, Gorslas, was found to have poured both boiling hot water and bleach onto mice living in a wheelie bin at her home on Maesawel, Black Lion Road, Cross Hands. The animals, as heard before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, endured “serious pain” and severe burns before perishing following her actions.
Prosecutors detailed that Roberts had used her workplace WhatsApp group to inform colleagues of her intentions prior to carrying out the incident. Despite numerous pleas from colleagues to reconsider and seek alternative solutions, she pressed forward. Roberts poured roughly half a bottle of bleach into the bin, followed by boiling water taken straight from a kettle. Five minutes later, she disposed of the mice in a bin bag for collection the following day.
Authorities were alerted to the case after the incident was reported to local police, who in turn contacted the RSPCA. An independent expert veterinary report submitted to the court concluded that the rodents would have suffered severe, possibly fatal burns and likely experienced intense distress, especially if drowned as a consequence of the added fluids. The report confirmed that more humane measures, including professional pest control or the safe release of the animals, were both feasible and offered to Roberts on the night in question.
During the sentencing hearing on 17 April, Roberts pleaded guilty to a single count of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals. In her defence, she expressed regret, describing her decision as an error of judgement. She further apologised for her actions, acknowledging the seriousness of her offence.
The court sentenced Roberts to an 18-week custodial term, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Importantly, Roberts was banned from owning or keeping animals for a period of seven years, with the District Judge reinforcing that acts of animal cruelty will not be tolerated, as all sentient creatures are protected under law.
RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben expressed his dismay at the incident, stating, “All animals—big and small—deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. These mice would have suffered greatly and died as a result of this intentional act. There were offers to release the animals and alternative measures that could have been taken, yet these were sadly ignored.”
Rebecca Machin, the RSPCA’s scientific and policy officer, used the case as an opportunity to encourage the public to opt for humane methods to deal with rodents. She advised that preventing mice from entering homes can often be achieved through basic measures—keeping food in sealed containers, blocking entry holes with wire mesh, and using natural deterrents such as peppermint or spearmint oils. Gardeners were reminded that certain plants, including daffodils and alliums, act as natural rodent repellents.
“If deterrents fail, professional pest control services can humanely remove rodents,” Machin noted, “but long-term solutions require addressing the causes that attracted the animals in the first place.”
This distressing case has highlighted the importance of both public education on humane pest management and the legal protections in place for all animals, regardless of species. Animal welfare organisations continue to stress that cruelty—intentional or not—has serious consequences under UK law. As this case demonstrates, compassion and responsibility toward even the smallest creatures is not simply a moral duty, but a legal one as well.