Man who threw kittens into River Thames sentenced

"The court was told witnesses heard him shouting "let them die" and "I want them to die" as the animals were dropped. He later told police he did not know "what came over me". Prosecutor Manisha Kukadia said police had been called to the scene and one kitten was caught before it hit the water, while the other two were found by officers "wet and muddy" and "in shock" but alive."

"After his arrest, Shephard told police he felt "bad about the situation", had shown remorse, and said he had been "very drunk at the time". Kukadia told the court: "There was a clear intention for the kittens to be killed so it's extreme and deliberate in nature. "The aggravating factor is the fact that there was use of alcohol at the time he did say he was intoxicated.""

A 59-year-old man tipped three young cats from a box into the River Thames from Twickenham Bridge while shouting that he wanted them to die. Witnesses intervened and one kitten was caught before hitting the water; the other two were recovered wet, muddy and in shock but alive. The man pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and was sentenced to 17 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He described feeling remorse and said he had been very drunk and did not know what came over him. The kittens belonged to his daughter, who had asked for help rehoming them and was unaware of his actions.

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