A mum buried alive her four-year-old son's pet hamster after mistaking the pet's hibernation for death.
Charlotte Elizabeth then replaced the beloved animal Rolo with a replica rodent - telling her child Harry that it was Rolo with a 'haircut'.
Credit: Caters
Flustered, the mum-of-one decided to 'hide the evidence' by burying the rodent and replacing Rolo with what she hoped was an exact replica.
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The 24-year-old, from Mansfield, told Mercury Press: "I'm terrible when I really think about it.
"I assumed that he died because he wasn't moving.
"I just panicked. I knew Harry would have been absolutely devastated. He loves his hamster."
However the student social worker was sent into a panic when her mum pointed out that the hamster may have only been asleep. She then dug the animal back up - but it was dead because she had placed it in a plastic bag.
Credit: Caters
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When Harry returned home he immediately noticed something was wrong; it was a different hamster after all, and accused his mum of giving his pet a 'haircut'.
Charlotte said: "He asked if I had given him a haircut - I told him he got too hot so I had to.
"He was so upset and wouldn't talk to me. I wasn't expecting that reaction. You couldn't tell it was a different hamster.
"I could have explained death to him but I thought it was a bit too soon. I didn't want to put him through the emotional stress. He's still quite innocent.
"However, I'm not doing this again.
"He wants a dog now too."
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At least the kid's none the wiser.
Featured Image Credit: Caters