Shoreham teen punched kitten

11:50am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

The injured kitten recovering at its new home The injured kitten recovering at its new home

A teenager has been ordered to do community service after he was convicted of punching a four-month-old kitten and trying to drown it in a bath.

Worthing Youth Court was told the 16-year-old boy beat the pet so hard that he broke its jaw and nearly knocked its eye out of its socket.

He was convicted of cruelty to animals.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was on bail for burglary when he was accused of attacking the kitten at his home in Shoreham earlier this year.

The court was told he took the pet to the bathroom where he punched it repeatedly and forced it into a bath of cold water.

Downstairs his older brother heard the kitten’s screams and rushed to its rescue.

But when he tried to save the pet, his younger brother attacked him and the police were called.

The kitten was found with extensive facial injuries, a broken jaw and a protruding eye.

It was taken to a vet where it was feared to have suffered permanent brain damage.

After the discovery of the abuse, the RSPCA prosecuted the boy on animal cruelty charges.

RSPCA spokeswoman Klare Kennett said the attack had been “brutal”.

She said: “We will not hesitate to bring prosecutions against anyone who displays cruelty towards animals.

“It is unbelievable that someone would cause this kind of suffering to a helpless animal.

“Incredibly the kitten has recovered reasonably well. It has now been taken away and has found a new loving home.”

At court the boy was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, failing to ensure the welfare of an animal and two counts of failing to surrender to custody.

He was given a youth rehabilitation order for nine months with a supervised curfew and was told he would be tagged for eight weeks.

He was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 12 months, given 60 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £200 costs at £5 a week.

The boy is appealing against his conviction but no date has yet been set.

Comments(33)

Crystal Ball says...
11:56am Wed 22 Aug 12

This nasty little oik, at the very least, truly deserves to have his face set on fire and put out with a cricket bat.

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tooned_in says...
12:03pm Wed 22 Aug 12

I have 2 cats send him round my house see if he gets away with that kind of behaviour.....what kind of a distrubed sick mind thinks that is acceptable?

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Daisyb2uk says...
12:16pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Name and shame him, why should he get away with anonymity?

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Enema of the peephole says...
12:17pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Sounds like similar cases of a murderers in training? The appeal lodged seems very telling. Appeals can address overly lenient sentencing - this sentence should be increased.

The article does not mention mandatory psychological evaluation and treatment. This would seem to be needed for any person demonstrating such behaviour.

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NickBrt says...
12:17pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Surprised he wasn't sent on an expenses holiday in the sun to help him cope with his trauma.

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Alan G Skinner says...
12:32pm Wed 22 Aug 12

This is a truly disguisting act, from an individual who is then inexplicably protected by the Judicial system by way of anonymity. On bail for burglary and still escaped a custodial sentance and is now appealing his conviction, truly extraodinary. This guy is a killer waiting to happen, most social miscreants begin this way, depravity and cruelty.

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One View says...
12:38pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Unreal. Poor moggie. Thanks to the brother who saved the kitten. To call the police to come to see another member of the family can't have been an easy decision to make. As for making an appeal against the conviction it beggars belief.

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Valerie Paynter says...
12:39pm Wed 22 Aug 12

His appeal must NOT succeed! That little wotsit needs serious psychiatric help if you ask me, which you didn't.

Why do I feel he has no crime free future?

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Angie Wright says...
12:44pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Someone will know who he is. He needs sorting out or he will progress on to humans. For the sake of all vulnerable people/animals we have to hope someone bigger deals with him, clearly the law won't.

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Euly says...
12:58pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Well said Crystal Ball...... where the hell do monsters like this come from and why so evil ?

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Goldenwight says...
1:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Personally, I would like to kick this little git from here to next week. However, I am not in charge of the CJS and my views are my own.

One wonders, however, what punishment was handed out for attacking his brother. Apologies for pointing out the obvious to Angie above, but he already HAS progressed to humans, and siblings at that. And that assault didn't even warrant a Crown Court hearing- regardless of whether the brother may have been a fly on the face of humaninty. Maybe we could get him a job mucking out tigers...

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thewhitehawker says...
1:49pm Wed 22 Aug 12

sometimes human nature to do these things almost like what a cat does to its prey but we must rise above this behaviour it is not acceptable in the civilised world and quite rightly the boy must be taught it is wrong

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getThisCoalitionOut says...
2:00pm Wed 22 Aug 12

No prison time? And he's appealing - hope he gets a prison sentence for having the cheek to appeal - what sort of family is he from? He should be named and shamed.

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Nathan_Adler says...
2:02pm Wed 22 Aug 12

The real victim here is the youth who punched the cat. He should be given the support, care and love any 16 year old deserves. Please don't be harsh on him.



(PS I have had a warning from The Argus that I have been offensive by merely speaking my mind, so read in to the above a little deeper!)

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jamus77 says...
2:06pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Ahem, this nasty piece of work is from SHOREHAM, not Worthing as the headline says. Does anyone read anything at the Argus before hitting the publish button?

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maggiethumb says...
2:29pm Wed 22 Aug 12

name and shame, pure evil, punch him and break his leg let the punishment fit the crime

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Surely not! says...
3:11pm Wed 22 Aug 12

The voices of reason again. The cat stories really do bring out the worst in you lot don't they.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
3:12pm Wed 22 Aug 12

There is a proven link between juvenile aggression towards animals and adults who go on to commit murder.
The lad should be in a special hospital secure unit.

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angrymonkey says...
3:31pm Wed 22 Aug 12

the brother should just drown this scum in the bath what a waste of life you know the tax payer will have to look after this jobless lad and again when he ends up in jail.

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Crystal Ball says...
3:56pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Surely not! wrote:
The voices of reason again. The cat stories really do bring out the worst in you lot don't they.
We are a nation of animal lovers so this cancerous polyp on the anus of humanity has no right to be part of it.

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davyboy says...
4:29pm Wed 22 Aug 12

can we not punch him in the face and try and drown him? what's good for the goose etc.......no appeal, and left to the locals in the stocks!!!!!

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Para2805 says...
5:58pm Wed 22 Aug 12

He is a skid-mark on the pants of society...scum

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neilchi says...
8:50pm Wed 22 Aug 12

I am deeply saddened by this story.

Firstly, I love animals especially cats and dogs and secondly for the pathetic state of the country.

Why can't he be named/photoed etc. He's 16 - he's old to have an adult relationship he's old enough to be accountable for his actions. His sentence is laughable and I bet he stuck his fingers at the judge.

I do hope that this cat is OK, if it needs a home I'd happily take it in.

Lastly for the person who said he has mental health psychiatric problems. Well, I have those and I do not miss treat my cat. She is my pride and joy and I wouldn't let any harm come to her or any other animal.

I hope this individual is a victim of karma and someone does to him what he done to this poor animal.

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Man With No Name says...
10:39pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Banned from keeping pets for 12 months? 12 months? Not life? 12. Months?! He should be hospitalised for 12 months.

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Bristol VR says...
12:25am Thu 23 Aug 12

Poor little thing! At least it is safe from harm now and well done to the brother who took action to save it. It is all too easy for humans to take it out on animals but there is usually an unconnected and sometines unexplainable reason as to why it happens. What is really needed here is a little less sensationalism and a little less anger. The cat is safe now, the lad has been punished by a court of law. That should be the natural end of it.

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boo2005 says...
6:08am Thu 23 Aug 12

Surely not! wrote:
The voices of reason again. The cat stories really do bring out the worst in you lot don't they.
don't be ridiculous, where the hell does 'reason' come into it?......this horrible thug should literally have this behaviour knocked out of him!......that's my voice of reason!

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keeshond8 says...
9:51am Thu 23 Aug 12

Is there anyone out there who is actually name and shame this boy on this site?
It would be helpful to know what's down the line for this vicious little thugs' neighbours. They might also like to question why bail for the burglary charge was not revoked and what was the outcome of that case.

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keeshond8 says...
9:53am Thu 23 Aug 12

Sorry, above should read "Is there anyone out there who can actually name and shame the boy on this site?"

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AlbionAli says...
1:39pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Scum! He should have been sent to Feltham for cruelty to the kitten alone, but to also be on bail for burglary and not surrendering to custody twice.....hopefully at least while this vile child is on a tag, all be it only for 8 weeks,and has a curfew order the spate of burglaries committed by two youngsters in the Shoreham,
Southwick and Mile Oak area recently will now stop. (The report doesn't say his brother called the police !!) So call me Sherlock !!

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Lionsgate666 says...
4:39pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Name and Shame!! Photo please! What a sick little f...

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gazzer1962 says...
5:49pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Name & shame!

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willy harris says...
1:37pm Fri 24 Aug 12

ONE PUNISHMENT.

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matlock says...
4:59pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Crystal Ball wrote:
Surely not! wrote:
The voices of reason again. The cat stories really do bring out the worst in you lot don't they.
We are a nation of animal lovers so this cancerous polyp on the anus of humanity has no right to be part of it.
One of the best insults I have ever read!

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