CONVICTED (2017) | Luke Smith, born c. 1991, former known addresses of Sidley Street, Bexhill, and Silchester Road, St Leonards – threw a 12-week-old kitten named Luna against a wall causing fatal injuries.
In January 2017 Smith pleaded guilty to causing the kitten unnecessary suffering during the incident, which took place at Hastings on August 16, 2016. The kitten, named Luna, suffered head and neck injuries and had to be euthanised.
Smith was given a community order and banned from keeping animals for three years (expired January 2020).
Update May 2018
Smith was back in court in May 2018 when he pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by beating her. The offence took place at Hastings on April 18. He also admitted being in breach of the suspended sentence made by an earlier court for animal cruelty, in that he threw a kitten called Luna against a wall and for burglary of a house in Hastings, as well as a previous assault on a woman.
This time Smith sentenced to 16 weeks in prison. Magistrates said the reason for the custodial sentence was because of persistent breach of court orders.
Hastings and St Leonards Observer
Update July 2019
Luke Smith was jailed for 13 years and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life after being convicted of rape.