CONVICTED (2023) | Thomas Gordon, born 13 May 1992, from Corstorphine Hill, Edinburgh EH4 – drop-kicked his mother’s cat in a fit of rage.
Thomas Gordon, who also uses the name Becca Gordon, was recorded on a neighbour’s CCTV viciously volleying the defenceless six-year-old cat, named Oreo, into a garden following a row with his mother in January 2021.
Gordon claimed he had kicked the cat after she bit him.
Shocking footage of the attack was posted to Facebook and soon went viral with animal lovers all over the world expressing their outrage at the mindless cruelty depicted. .
Gordon was later arrested and charged. In court on Tuesday 4 April 2023, he pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
The court viewed the 10 second video clip which showed Gordon picking the cat up then dropping her and kicking her on the body as she fell to the ground.
Fiscal depute Sarah Noon told the court that police and the Scottish SPCA were alerted to the footage after it was widely shared on Facebook and the accused was identified and apprehended .
During a police interview Gordon claimed the cat had bitten him and he had retaliated by kicking her.
Gordon’s lawyer told the court her client had suffered “a momentary loss of temper” following a row with his mother and lashed out at the animal.
She added: “Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be any lasting damage.”
In addition to a small fine Gordon, who owns two cats and a dog with his girlfriend, was given a two-year ban on owning animals.
Sentencing | fined a total of £245 . Banned from keeping or owning animals for the next two years (expires April 2025).