YORK, England – A male student was arrested after allegedly cooking a live hamster at his apartment in northern England.
Police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) were investigating Monday after law enforcement officers found the creature lying dead in a frying pan in the man's kitchen, in the city of York.
They made the grim discovery after the unnamed 20 year old was detained for being drunk and disorderly -- and officers inspected his student apartment.
The man was arrested on suspicion of a further offense of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, The York Press reported.
The dead pet belonged to the man's roommate, a foreign student who was said to be "distraught" by the alleged incident.
"This is a horrific and tragic incident for both the poor hamster and the owner concerned," Denise Young, a spokeswoman for the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, said. "We hope that this case is taken as seriously as it deserves to be by the relevant authorities."
The suspect was released on bail while police and the RSPCA continue their enquiries, and was due back in court March 6.
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