An Amazon delivery driver who was filmed snatching a cat from a family's front door faces up to five years behind bars.
Romanian Catalin Stancu, 42, was seen taking tabby cat Nora from a family's front garden after he dropped off a package.
Owner Carl Crowther, 53, who said he was in shock, reviewed the doorbell footage and saw Stancu, wearing a high-vis jacket, grab Nora in the front yard.
He then posted the doorbell footage online - and hours later, received a message from the Amazon driver.
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"Hello — I have your cat," it read.
Stancu has now appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court, where he pleaded guilty to stealing a cat, The Sun revealed.
District Judge Alexander Boyd said the offence was too serious for just a financial penalty, and was considering "all options".
The theft of specific animals is a relatively new offence, and there are not yet any sentencing guidelines, said Judge Boyd.
The doorbell camera video showed Catalin Stancu snatching a tabby cat from a family's front garden
|CARL CROWTHER/UKACF
He said: "This offence was brought in to recognise that a pet is not just property, it’s a part of the family, which clearly it was in this case."
In a victim statement, the Crowthers family said when they realised the cat was gone, "we had no idea where she was, or whether she was injured or even alive".
They added: "Finding out that she had been intentionally taken only increased our fear and emotional distress."
"Knowing that she had been taken from our garden, a place where she should have been safe, makes it even more shocking.
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"For four days we were left in complete uncertainty and the emotional toll on our family was overwhelming."
The family were particularly concerned as Nora has a heart murmur and requires regular medication.
Mr Crowther expected a Zara delivery for his daughter on January 18, and was out on a work callout at 1.30pm.
As nobody was home, he checked the doorbell footage to see Stancu take the cat.
At the time, he said: "It's absolutely disgusting. He was there for over six minutes. He comes right up the door, picks up the cat, turns around and walks off."
Amazon offered to reimburse the family for the cat - which was "disgusting", Mr Crowther said.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years behind bars.
Nora has now been safely returned to the Crowther family and reunited with their other cat, Domino.