Catnapper who lures away neighbour’s pets told to move or face jail | UK News

A catnapper who has been in and out of court for trying to lure off her neighbours’ pets has been given an ultimatum by an exasperated judge – move away or go back to prison. 

Angela Montgomery, 50, ‘shattered the peace’ when she moved into the Winston Court retirement complex in Norton-on-Derwent, North Yorkshire, to be close to her late mother. 

She was handed a restraining order for interfering with other residents’ moggies in May last year but has flouted it on six occasions, landing in front of the same judge each time. 

Montgomery, given a 12-week jail term in November after breaching a four-week suspended sentence, has now been told she faces another stretch unless she finds somewhere else to live. 

York Crown Court was shown doorbell CCTV footage which showed her calling for one of the cats. 

Eleanor Guildford, prosecuting, said on November 30 Montgomery was first seen outside her neighbour’s window at about 1pm and continued to appear back and forth on the footage until 7pm. 

The footage showed her walk past the property and call for a cat while trying to avoid being picked up by the camera.  

There had been no other purpose for walking in front of the home, the court heard.  

Ms Guildford said the incident caused the neighbour ‘significant alarm’ and resulted in them phoning the police. 

But Rhianydd Clement, defending, said Montgomery believed the cats were hers, with one belonging to her late mother.  

‘Ms Montgomery tells me they are her cats,’ Ms Clement said. 

She said Montgomery had not had chance to engage with probation services and mental health support since she was released from prison at the end of November. 

The defence barrister said Montgomery is now taking steps to seek counselling for the bereavement of her mother and anger management. 

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, has given Montgomery a final chance, telling her to move home or face the prospect of being sent back to prison. 

He deferred sentencing of Montgomery until June 18 for her to show she can stay away from the cats and find a new home. 

‘It is the only way to cure this problem.’ 

The Judge warned her that if she broke the order again, he would ‘have to refer to’ jailing her for enough time that she would lose her flat, adding: ‘So, look for somewhere else.’ 

Residents at Winston Court, run by a housing association, are praying Montgomery heeds Judge Morris’s words and moves away. 

One said:  ‘She became convinced that her neighbour’s cats were actually hers and it’s caused a really awful situation for him, she simply won’t leave it alone. 

‘She is always trying to entice the cats into her flat and despite warnings from the court she just wouldn’t stop, and it caused him understandable anxiety. 

‘He was forced to put up two CCTV cameras either side of his door and didn’t know what she was going to do next.’ 

Another neighbour added: ‘This is a housing association property, and you have to be over 55 to qualify for a flat, which she is not. 

‘Most of the people here are elderly and simply want to live here quietly but that just has not been possible since she moved in, she’s shattered the peace. 

‘It’s very clear that she needs help and support. People here are hoping she pays attention to the judge and moves – but it would only shift the problem elsewhere unfortunately.’ 

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