CONVICTED (2018) | Reece Stephen Donohue (aka James Stephen Donohue), born 28/03/1993, of 55 Wharton Street, Retford DN22 7EH – kicked his housemate’s beloved cat to death
Former special constable Reece Donohue eventually admitted kicking two-year-old cat Marley to death, after initially claiming he had been attacked by another cat in the house. That cat, named Milo, was found hiding in the property.
Marley’s owner Amanda Attwood discovered blood splattered on the walls and furnishings after she returned to the home she shared with Donohue.
She was then horrified to discover her pet’s dead body lying on the floor.
A post-mortem carried out on Marley showed he had been kicked multiple times in the head and had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
He also suffered a broken jaw and had been kicked in the stomach and lungs.
His kidneys and intestines had also haemorrhaged.
Amanda had only lived with Donohue for a few weeks, having moved in at the end of March 2018. She left straight after the incident.
Amanda said: “Marley was such a loving cat, he would always want to get everyone’s attention when people would see him.”
Donohue pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat by subjecting him to unnecessary physical violence which led to his death.
The court heard the offence happened after Donohue had been drinking and that he had tried to cover up the offence.
Sentencing:12-week prison term, suspended for 12 months. 150 hours of unpaid work. Banned from owning or keeping animals for life.