Shocking CCTV footage shows Paul Carrick throwing a cat against a wall in his back yard before stamping on the animal.
Carrick, 42, of Gurlish Terrace, Coundon near Bishop Auckland, has been convicted of causing the cat unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act, but he has escaped a custodial sentence. The man admitted hitting the cat against the wall, but denied stamping on it.
After a prosecution made by the RSPCA, magistrates at the County Durham and Darlington Magistrates' Court convicted him of both parts of the offence - and sentenced him to 23 weeks in prison. This has been suspended for two years, while Carrick is also banned from keeping animals for life.
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RSPCA inspector Christine Nisbet said the footage had been "horrific" to watch. She visited Carrick's home and said she "immediately recognised him" from the CCTV footage. Magistrates were shown the footage.
In the clip, Carrick is seen swinging the cat into the side of a brick extension at the back of the house before throwing him with force onto the ground. Then, as he leans against a wall, he appears to stamp down at the location where the cat was thrown. He reappears carrying a plastic bag into the yard and then jumps up and down in the corner of the yard.
In mitigation, the court was told Carrick had denied stamping on the cat.
The vet said in her statement: "It is my opinion that this cat was subjected to a violent attack by this man. It can be clearly seen on the footage that he was slammed into a wall with considerable force and was thrown to the ground.
“Once the cat was on the ground we cannot see him, but given the man leans on the wall where the cat landed and stamps in the same position three times, disappears from view and reappears to stamp in the same place again I think it is reasonable to assume he was stamping on the cat.”
Carrick will also have to complete 30 days of "rehabilitation activity" and 150 hours of community service. He will have to pay a bill of £2,324.
Speaking after the court hearing, RSPCA's Ms Nisbet said: "This was an awful case of cruelty as there is nothing worse than seeing such a senseless attack on a pet by his owner. The cat is clearly seen on film, but sadly he or his body was never found. Fortunately, an eyewitness was brave enough to come forward and report this attack, as well as pointing us in the direction of the CCTV, so we were able to prosecute Carrick.
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