Animal cruelty charges dropped against Islington man over dead cats

Police patrolled the Pleydell Estate overnight after reports of dead cats in the area

The case against a man accused of animal cruelty offences, after about 20 cats were found dead in north London, has been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

David Avhanvhondo, 56, had pleaded not guilty to two offences at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court last month.

The CPS told the same court on Friday the case had been discontinued because it no longer met its legal test.

The CPS said "there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction".

Mr Avhanvhondo, of King Square in Islington, denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal.

It comes after members of the public raised concerns when dead cats were found in public spaces around the Pleydell Estate area.

Last month the Met Police said plain-clothes officers had carried out overnight patrols at the estate, also in Islington, after receiving reports of the dead cats.

A CPS spokesman said: "Prosecutors must keep cases under continual review to ensure our legal test is met.

"After receiving further evidence, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we discontinued the case."

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