An crook who gave a kitten to his mother as a Christmas present - claiming he had bought it from a Harrow pet shop - had actually stolen the animal from one of her neighbours during a burglary.
James Boyce, 31, handed over the smokey grey coloured 10-month-old kitten on December 25 during an exchange of gifts at his mother's flat
Later the same day a woman living in nearby Bovingdon Lane, Colindale, north-west London, called police to report her pet cat Mercy had been taken in a burglary
Officers from Barnet entered the flat belonging to Boyce's mother and found Boyce in his bed asleep with the animal beside him. Mercy was returned to its rightful owner and Boyce, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged.
He admitted on Friday March 28 at West London Magistrates' Court to burglary and making threats and was sentenced to 15 weeks' imprisonment.
Detective Constable Yogini Patel said "Fortunately 'Mercy' has not been harmed during her festive ordeal and has been returned to her owner unscathed. We take all reports of burglary very seriously were able to act quickly to identify the culprit in this case. Mercy the cat has made a full recovery and is now helping to control smaller local pests in his happy home."
