Two 17-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been sentenced at Highbury Corner Youth Court for torturing and killing kittens.
Defendant A (17-year-old boy) was sentenced to a 12-month custodial sentence. Defendant B (17-year-old girl) was sentenced to a nine month custodial sentence, on Monday, August 4.
This follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police which saw the teenagers arrested, charged and convicted within the space of a week.
An investigation was launched on Saturday, May 3, after two kittens were found dismembered on Ickenham Road, Ruislip. Witnesses reported seeing two young people fleeing the area.
After police were notified of the disturbing offence, they immediately launched an investigation. Detectives trawled through hours of CCTV in order to locate the two teenagers.
On Thursday, May 15, Met Police issued an appeal in a bid to identify the pair and prevent further animals coming to harm. The pair were identified and arrested on Tuesday, May 20. They were charged the next day.
The boy (Defendant A) and girl (Defendant B), appeared at Highbury Corner Youth Court on Wednesday, May 21, where they pleaded guilty to possession of an offence weapon and causing unnecessary harm to a protected animal.
Detectives gathered comprehensive evidence, including alarming material found on Defendant A’s phone, such as disturbing notes, like “I have come close to murder” and internet searches including “how to get away with murder”. In addition to this, Defendant A researched serial killers, and joined ‘lost and found cats’ groups on social media.
Following the sentencing, DC 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’d like to thank everyone who responded to the media appeal. Your support played a vital role in stopping these teenagers from potentially harming again.
“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.
“Although they have now been sentenced, we also have a duty to safeguard them as juveniles and we will work with our partner agencies to do this. We ask that their privacy and that of their families is respected.
“If you suspect cruelty to animals, please report it. In some cases, it can be an early warning sign of something far more dangerous. We will always act to protect our communities — people and pets alike.”
During interview, Defendant A showed no remorse. He smiled when he was shown images of the deceased animals.
CCTV footage revealed the pair had travelled to the area on Saturday, May 3, carrying a black duffel bag, believed to have been used to transport the kittens. Witnesses reported seeing movement inside the bag as the teens exited a train station in Ruislip.
On Saturday, June 7, the pair were located on Baker Street, sitting at a bus stop, after being reported missing. They were found with packed bags containing clothes, toiletries, and tins of tuna. Police arrested them for breaching bail.
They will never be able to own an animal, arrange to buy a animal or transport animals, this order was presented by the court and will remain in place for life.
The Met takes all cases of animal brutality seriously. If you suspect that anyone is mistreating an animal, you can contact the RSPCA or call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
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