A man who bit his kitten’s ear off has been jailed for 12 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.
Aaron James Williamson, 20, of Grimsby, was sent to prison after a court heard how he ‘tortured’ his helpless pet.
Williamson admitted that he repeatedly bit the animal’s ear and ‘lost count’ of the number of times he punched the kitten.
The sickening abuse led to the cat, called Litten, losing most of his ear.
The pet was rescued from Williamson’s home on September 11 along with two other kittens after a witness reported the abuse to the RSPCA.
District Judge Daniel Curtis branded Williamson’s actions ‘sickening’ and sentenced him to 12 weeks in jail and banned him from keeping animals for life.
RSPCA inspector Kate Burris said Williamson ‘tortured’ the kitten.
She said: ‘He admitted repeatedly biting Litten’s ear, which resulted in the loss of most of it, and that he had lost count of the times he had punched Litten. He said he did it when he was angry.
‘District Judge Curtis said his daily abuse of small, defenceless animals who were unable to harm him and were at his mercy was sickening.
‘He said that Williamson had called himself a monster in interview, and that was accurate as to how he behaved.
‘We are extremely grateful to the witnesses who contacted us, and got these kittens out of this situation despite the position that put them in. It was very brave.’
Ms Burris added that Litten, who is now called Oreo, has been rehomed in Derbyshire.
The RSPCA inspector said: ‘I was surprised how friendly Litten was when I first met him given the abuse he had suffered, he was so affectionate and loving and was rubbing his face against mine during his veterinary examination.
‘I just knew he was going to make a perfect addition to any family.
‘I am so happy that he has found a fantastic new home, with people who love him and are caring for him in the way he always should have been cared for.
‘It could have been a very different outcome for him if we hadn’t been able to intervene when we did.’
Williamson admitted one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten when he appeared at Grimsby Magistrates Court.
He was ordered to pay £250 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
It comes as the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty is set to be increased from six months to five years under tough new laws.
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