CONVICTED (2021) | Adam Routledge, born 1984, of Stenhills Crescent, Runcorn WA7 5EE, but with links to the city of Salford – threw a six-week-old kitten against a wall in a fit of temper
Adam Routledge was sentenced in his absence to 18 weeks in prison. The father of three pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, as well as drink-driving while disqualified.
Alison Warburton, prosecuting, said police were called to a house on Stenhills Crescent after reports a man had “thrown a kitten around a house and killed the kitten”.
When officers arrived, a young child who said Routledge had entered her bedroom and “thrown the cat against the wall” – was “cradling the six-week old kitten”.
The stricken pet was “in a lot of pain”.
Routledge was at the scene and said he “was frustrated the cats had fleas and he had been bitten by fleas”.
Routledge’s partner, Paula Doolan, took the pet to a local vets where he was treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication and kept in to be observed.
When interviewed by police, Routledge said: “I had a few drinks and had an argument with my partner.
“My temper got the better of me and I picked up the kitten and threw it.
“I’m disgusted with myself.”
The kitten survived but Ms Warburton said his condition indicated the use of a “reasonable amount of force”.
Routledge was charged and bailed, but at 5pm on October 16, 2020, was spotted driving away from his house.
Police followed him and Routledge completed a loop of the street before pulling up.
Officers “could smell alcohol” and a breath test registered 62 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, above the legal limit in England of 35.
Routledge was arrested by officers from Cheshire police and said he had been drinking the previous night until 4am and “he needed to go to the shop and thought he would be OK”.
He claimed he was “unsure whether his driving licence disqualification had finished”.
It had not.
The court heard Routledge had six previous convictions for eight offences including drink driving and assault.
There was no mitigation for Routledge as he did not attend court and nor did anyone on his behalf.
A letter from his solicitors asked the matter to be adjourned.
Routledge claimed he was self-isolating, but magistrates dismissed the claim after Ms Warburton questioned whether he could be trusted as “genuine”, having avoided several previous court dates for similar reasons without providing the results of tests.
These included on October 1 – just two weeks before he was spotted drink driving – when he claimed he had Covid-19 symptoms.
On October 22, he again claimed he was self-isolating and remotely indicated guilty pleas, but didn’t turn up to be sentenced on November 16, and when he appeared on November 20 he claimed he had “been in hospital with TB”.
Ms Warburton said his latest absence was “the third time we’ve heard he’s self-isolating – I suggest we ask whether that’s genuine”.
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison for his “deliberate and gratuitous” animal cruelty with six weeks consecutive for drink driving while disqualified. Ordered to pay £278 in prosecution costs and victim surcharge. Banned from driving for 20 months. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Update 4 January 2021
The local newspaper reports that Routledge has had his case reopened after he appeared in court via videolink on December 21, 2020.
Routledge was bailed to return to court on January 13, 2021 in relation to the animal cruelty and driving matters.
Court papers said a pre-sentence report has been ordered.
He was bailed on condition to reside at home.
Update 16 January 2021
Routledge has been resentenced to the following: 14 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation activity days. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years.
Update 28 January 2021
Routledge was jailed for three years and nine months for fraud after charging elderly customers for unnecessary building work.
Northwich Guardian
Liverpool Echo
Another Mentally Disturbed Scum.
Obviously Not Safe Around Anything.