Foot-long rat escapes from trap in Chesterfield man's garden after chewing through steel cage

A foot-long rat escaped from a steel trap in a Chesterfield man's garden after eating its way out of the cage.
Robert Scriven bought the trap from Ebay. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNS.comRobert Scriven bought the trap from Ebay. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNS.com
Robert Scriven bought the trap from Ebay. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNS.com

After noticing rats running along the walls in his garden, Robert Scriven bought a trap on Ebay for £9.

He successfully captured two rats on the first day of using the trap, and then released them into a field miles away from his home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The following day, the 44-year-old was heading out on his morning jog when he noticed a giant rat, at least 12-inches long, inside the trap.

On the first day of using the trap, he captured these two rats and later released them into a field. Photo - Robert Scriven/SWNS.On the first day of using the trap, he captured these two rats and later released them into a field. Photo - Robert Scriven/SWNS.
On the first day of using the trap, he captured these two rats and later released them into a field. Photo - Robert Scriven/SWNS.

He decided to leave the rat in the trap until after his jog, but when he returned home, he discovered it had escaped.

Mr Scriven said: "The trap looked like it was sturdy and I bought it from a proper seller who had sold over 800 in the last four to five months.

"I noticed the lid was down and obviously something had set it off, that’s when I saw this huge rat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I went for a run and was out for around 35 minutes. When I came back I noticed it wasn’t there, I was gobsmacked really.

Mr Scriven with the cage. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNSMr Scriven with the cage. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNS
Mr Scriven with the cage. Photo - Tom Maddick/SWNS

"For all I know it could have started chewing earlier than I thought but I didn’t see any holes in the cage when I checked at 7am.

"The rat trap did a job with the two I caught but this one was more determined. This rat was probably older and a bit more feisty.

'"It's the first time I have bought a rat trap. Some people have traps and don’t catch anything, two out of three isn’t bad.

'"I'm going to patch it up and put some new wiring on it, it’s repairable."

Words and pictures courtesy of the Mail Online.