Leamington Spa man admits animal cruelty over cat kick

CCTV footage of the attack was shown at the court hearing

A dog walker filmed on a doorbell camera kicking an elderly cat that later died has admitted a cruelty offence.

Terry Bree, 71, was charged last month after "extremely distressing" video of the attack in Leamington Spa was posted on social media, a court heard.

He was ordered to complete 300 hours of community work at a Warwickshire Magistrates' Court hearing on Friday.

The cat's owner was left "sickened" by the incident, the hearing was told.

Feline Lenny was 21 years old when Bree struck him while out walking a dog on September 16.

Bree pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Bree admitted the charge at a court hearing in Leamington Spa on Friday

The court was played video of the incident and showed Bree calling the dog towards him before putting it on a lead.

He then grabbed the dog's neck and shook it several times before walking towards the cat and kicking it, sending it to hide underneath a car.

Prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed told the court Bree had "viciously kicked the victim's cat" into the road, on Hastang Fields, Leamington Spa, shortly before 07:00 BST.

Lenny's owner had said that following the attack her cat "went downhill" and died, Ms Ahmed told the court, although medical reports on the cause of the animal's death were inconclusive.

'Sickened and shocked'

The court heard an impact statement from Lenny's owner which said: "Since this happened I have not been sleeping properly. I wake up during the night expecting to hear him but then remember he has passed away.

"I had Lenny since he was a kitten. I feel sickened and shocked that someone could do this to him.

"I strongly believe the shock caused his death."

Bree, of Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa, claimed he had kicked out after his dog's nose was scratched by the cat during an incident not caught on camera.

'Just saw red'

Defence lawyer, Jas Thiara, said her client was conscious the case had "caused a lot of public outcry".

"My client is a man who has been a dog owner for 35 years," she told the court.

Bree had experienced "issues with cats" during previous walks, she added.

"He just saw red and he reacted and he deeply, deeply regrets his actions.

"This is a gentleman of previous good character. He reported himself to the RSPCA.

"Unfortunately in this case the cat has passed. There is no medical evidence that the kick caused the death of the animal."

Sentencing Bree, chairman of the bench Janis Cauthery told him: "We have taken into account your early guilty plea and also your previous good character."

He was handed a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, and was also banned from owning or keeping a cat for the next five years.

Bree was additionally ordered to pay £200 in compensation, £185 in costs and a victim surcharge of £114.