jpco-25-8-10-asbo catjpco-25-8-10-asbo cat
jpco-25-8-10-asbo cat

Looking back to 2010 when ASBO the cat spent the night stuck up a 50ft tree in Crawley

In 2010 we reported on how Britain’s youngest ASBO had been up to his old tricks again, driving his long-suffering guardian to despair.

Our reporter wrote at the time: Having vandalised skirting boards and electrical cables, mischievous moggy ASBO has taken to climbing trees, spending a long night stuck 50-foot up a conifer.

Distressed Fiona Morgan said: “He’s only a baby. It’s the first time he’s stayed out the night.

“He was about half way down this morning but he kept getting lost and going higher again.

“The magpies have been bombarding him because he’s such a hard cat.”

Fiona of Heathfield, Pound Hill, let the seven-month moggy out to explore on Monday evening (August 23).

But no sooner had he scampered out the door he had scaled the towering tree at the end of the road.

“I’ve had him since Mother’s Day”, she said. “He was a present from my children.

“We came up with the silly name of ASBO because he was so cheeky.

On his first night he chewed through the skirting-board and the telephone cables and chargers.”

Anxious friends and family could only stand and watch on after the RSPCA said it could only help the frightened feline after he had been stuck for 24-hours.

But patrolling officers tore up their own rule-book and rushed to his rescue after just 20.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Patrick Hamby used every inch of his experience to agilely scale the conifer and coax down the tearaway tabby.

The hero officer risked life and limb to reach ASBO, eventually grabbing him by the scruff and swinging him to safety.

Modest Mr Hamby played down his selfless actions saying he had just been on patrol with a colleague when the call came through.

“It’s not what I expected to be doing this morning, no”, he said.

Things finished off on an emotional note as pet and owner were reunited.

“It’s really brought the neighbours together, they’ve shown genuine concern” Fiona said.

“I’ve been in the house crying because they’ve been so nice.

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