This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6331411.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Suspended sentence for cat killer | Suspended sentence for cat killer |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A woman who killed her boyfriend's cat by putting it in a washing machine has received a four-month suspended jail sentence. | A woman who killed her boyfriend's cat by putting it in a washing machine has received a four-month suspended jail sentence. |
| Diane Hannon, 42, from Old Colwyn, Conwy, admitted causing unnecessary suffering and cruelly ill-treating six-year-old Paws, who was deaf. | Diane Hannon, 42, from Old Colwyn, Conwy, admitted causing unnecessary suffering and cruelly ill-treating six-year-old Paws, who was deaf. |
| Paws suffered a heart attack, severe burns and loss of fur. | Paws suffered a heart attack, severe burns and loss of fur. |
| Llandudno magistrates heard Hannon, who suffers depression, was cat-sitting for Duncan Carthy when the pair argued. | Llandudno magistrates heard Hannon, who suffers depression, was cat-sitting for Duncan Carthy when the pair argued. |
| The prosecution said Hannon and Mr Carthy had rowed about Mr Carthy's ex-wife and children while he was visiting his son in July last year. | The prosecution said Hannon and Mr Carthy had rowed about Mr Carthy's ex-wife and children while he was visiting his son in July last year. |
| Paws was killed after Hannon rowed with Mr Carthy | |
| The trial, in December last year, heard Mr Carthy thought Hannon was joking when she told him over the phone that she had killed Paws. | The trial, in December last year, heard Mr Carthy thought Hannon was joking when she told him over the phone that she had killed Paws. |
| Glen Murphy, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "Duncan Carthy called Miss Hannon and asked if the cat was all right, and she replied: 'I hate you. No, I've killed it.' | Glen Murphy, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "Duncan Carthy called Miss Hannon and asked if the cat was all right, and she replied: 'I hate you. No, I've killed it.' |
| "Mr Carthy thought she was joking, but on Sunday at 3.30pm, when he returned to his flat, no one was there and he couldn't find the cat. | "Mr Carthy thought she was joking, but on Sunday at 3.30pm, when he returned to his flat, no one was there and he couldn't find the cat. |
| 'I hate you' | |
| "He went into the kitchen and noticed his clothes were on top of the washing machine and found Paws inside the washing machine clearly dead." | "He went into the kitchen and noticed his clothes were on top of the washing machine and found Paws inside the washing machine clearly dead." |
| Paws' injuries included scalding. He had died from heart failure. | Paws' injuries included scalding. He had died from heart failure. |
| When Mr Carthy phoned Hannon, she laughed and put the phone down, the court heard. | When Mr Carthy phoned Hannon, she laughed and put the phone down, the court heard. |
| He later found a note she had written on the back of an envelope saying: "I hate you." | He later found a note she had written on the back of an envelope saying: "I hate you." |
| When interviewed by police, Hannon admitted that although she had placed the cat in the washing machine to hurt it, she did not know it would die. | When interviewed by police, Hannon admitted that although she had placed the cat in the washing machine to hurt it, she did not know it would die. |
| The sentencing had been delayed until Monday after a psychiatric report on Hannon had been ordered. | The sentencing had been delayed until Monday after a psychiatric report on Hannon had been ordered. |
| In all my years as an RSPCA inspector, this is the worst act of deliberate cruelty I have ever seen RSPCA Inspector Kevin Paton | |
| District judge Andrew Shaw, sitting at Llandudno magistrates' court, told Hannon it was the worst act of animal cruelty he had dealt with. | District judge Andrew Shaw, sitting at Llandudno magistrates' court, told Hannon it was the worst act of animal cruelty he had dealt with. |
| He also gave Hannon a lifetime ban from keeping any pet and ordered her to pay £300 costs. | He also gave Hannon a lifetime ban from keeping any pet and ordered her to pay £300 costs. |
| Hannon's defence solicitor said she had received hate mail because of the case. | Hannon's defence solicitor said she had received hate mail because of the case. |
| Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Kevin Paton said he was pleased Hannon had been banned from owning animals. | |
| "This sends a strong signal to the public that animal cruelty will not be tolerated," he said. | |
| "In all my years as an RSPCA inspector, this is the worst act of deliberate cruelty I have ever seen." |