CONVICTED (2016) | Robert White, born 05/03/1982, of Rogerfield Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 5UT – tried to get a kitten high on cannabis and then burnt him with a candle causing fatal injuries.
Rafe Turner, prosecuting, said the kitten had been brought to be seen by a veterinary surgeon by the defendant’s partner the day after he was attacked.
He said: “It was in a collapsed and cold state and smelt of dirty water. He had dried candle wax on his nose and head and what looked like burns on his face.” Mr Turner said the animal was found to have third-degree full-thickness burns covering 70 to 80% of his head and that blisters were also found on his paws.
He said: “These injuries resulted ultimately in him being sadly put to sleep a couple of days later.”
Mr Turner said White had been quizzed by his partner’s sister as to what had happened and said he had been trying to “get it stoned and give it blow backs.”
When interviewed the defendant admitted sharing joint responsibility of Salem with his partner and said he had been smoking with his friends and that the kitten had been “singed a couple of times.”
He said that one of his mates had actually burnt the cat who had reacted by running away. He said his mate had just been “messing about” and that he felt “bad” about what happened.
Daniel Wayne, defending, said White was addicted to amphetamine and also had an obsessive and compulsive disorder. He said: “This is a man who does not have any similar previous offences and is plagued by mental health problems.”
Magistrates told White they had thought seriously about passing an immediate prison sentence but had taken into account the mitigation.
After the hearing RSPCA inspector Beth Boyd said: “It was just horrific. It is one of the worst cases I have had to investigate.
“I cannot even think about what Salem must have gone through that night. At least some justice has been done for him.”
Sentence: four months in jail suspended for 18 months; total of £465 costs/charges. Banned indefinitely from keeping any animal.
Another Mentally Disturbed Evil Scum.