Teenagers detained for cats' torture and killing

This black animal carrier was used to transport the kittens

A teenage boy and girl have been detained for the torture and killing of two kittens that were found cut open in a wooded area in west London.

District Judge Hina Rai said that the killings near Ruislip Golf Course were "without a doubt the most awful offences against animals I have seen in this court".

The boy, 17, had also dreamed of killing a human and "getting away with murder".

He was given a 12-month detention and training order and the girl, 17, was given a nine-month detention order at Highbury Corner Youth Court.

Warning: The following report contains graphic content and descriptions of animal cruelty.

Both teenagers, who cannot be named because of their age, were also given a lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals.

They pleaded guilty on 21 May to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals by mutilating and killing them.

On 3 May, a member of the public who found the kittens warned another passerby not to go down the footpath because "there is something horrific down there".

The black kittens were found with ropes attached to them and had been cut open. Also discovered at the scene were blowtorches, three knives and a pair of scissors.

One kitten was found hanging from a rope and was completely ripped open, with its eyes bulging, the court heard.

Alongside the tools, a significant amount of blood and fur were found.

The teenagers also admitted one count of unlawful possession of a knife.

The pair were seen running away from the scene at the time - the Met Police originally issued this image which has been edited to protect the teenagers' identity

Sentencing the boy, Judge Rai told him his actions had been "extensively planned" and were "clearly premeditated".

She told him: "You said sorry in your [police] interview but reports also show that you struggle to show empathy and realise that the kittens would suffer."

She added: "It seems you chose the kittens because they have emotion and you would have power over them."

Notes on the boy's phone detailed his desire to kill another person.

They read: "I really wanted to murder someone.

"Every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have come close. I have killed cats to reduce my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats."

The boy, who the judge said "may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which has yet to be diagnosed", had no previous convictions.

In appealing for a lighter sentence, the defendant's solicitor had cited his possible neurodiversity as a contributing factor for his actions.

The kittens were found near Ruislip Golf Course

Judge Rai told the girl, who also had no previous convictions: "It is not clear who took the lead but from what I have read you were both equally responsible."

The court heard there were sinister items on the girl's mobile phone of mutilated pets and she had a fascination with dead human bodies.

The judge told the girl she had "the potential for a bright future which makes this case shocking and extremely concerning".

The girl had accepted she had been "cold and cruel" in her actions but this came after she had "distanced" herself from the offences.

The judge added: "It was clearly premediated and there was evidence you may have been the instigator and more willing to cause the kittens suffering for attention from the mental health agencies."

The girl had placed messages on Gumtree to buy three kittens because "she did not want them to be lonely", the court heard.

The court also ordered that the girl's pet rabbit be taken away from her.

Det Con Rebecca Rickhuss, who led the investigation, said: "This was a deeply distressing case and as we continued to gather evidence, we grew concerned that torturing and killing cats would be a catalyst onto further violent offending.

"I urge parents and carers to take an active interest in what their children are accessing online.

"On Defendant A's phone, we found graphic videos of animal cruelty, disturbing notes, and posts glorifying violence."

Additional reporting by PA Media

Clarification 8 August: This article originally reported that the boy may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, which have yet to be diagnosed, and has been amended to make clear that these details were mentioned by the judge during consideration of defence argument that this was a contributing reason for his actions.