A Swindon man who ‘hit a kitten so hard he had to be euthanised’ has been sentenced.
21-year-old Kyson Cummings claimed that a TV fell on four-month-old Grimz at his home in Albany Close, Walcot – causing severe head and spinal injuries.
RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson visited the address, which the defendant shares with his family, on 21 November 2023, after a vet reported their concerns.
The court heard that the cat had been living with Cummings for around six weeks when they contacted their local veterinary clinic on 19 November 2023, claiming that Grimz had been found “injured and unresponsive”, lying under the television which had fallen off its stand.
However, an examination of Grimz revealed “severe conditions”.
The vet also said that a family member had expressed “scepticism” over Cummings’ account of the incident, claiming the family member told her he had “mentioned wanting to harm the kitten the previous week due to its toileting habits”.
After examining the “comatose” cat, the vet recommended euthanasia on welfare grounds, due to the “extensive head injuries and the grim prognosis”.
She added: “My decision to report the case stemmed from [a family member’s] statement casting doubt on the accidental nature of the injury.
“I found it also implausible that a 1.1kg (2.4lb) kitten could displace a television screen.”
Independent veterinary surgeon David Martin reviewed the case as an expert witness on behalf of the RSPCA.
He concluded: “It is my expert opinion that Grimz was deliberately harmed.
“It is highly unlikely that a kitten would be able to knock the TV over, even if playing boisterously. The injuries are completely inconsistent … but are completely compatible with a heavy and forceful kick to the underside of the head.
“He was not caused to suffer as there is no evidence of him being conscious following sustaining the severe head injury, but is my expert opinion that Mr Cummings failed to take reasonable steps to protect Grimz from pain, suffering, injury and disease as Grimz died as a result of deliberately inflicted blunt force trauma to his head and neck.”
Mr Martin noted that the “deliberate act of intentional cruelty” could have been a result of Grimz urinating on the bed an hour or so before the incident, as previously stated by Mr Cummings.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 13 March, Cummings was sentenced – after a trial found him guilty – for an offence under Section 9 and 32(2) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He was ordered to complete a 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and 35 days of rehabiliation activity days with the probation service. He was also disqualified for keeping animals for five years.
Following the sentencing, Inspector Miranda Albinson said: “This young kitten was hit with such force that his severe injuries meant the only option was to put him to sleep.
“Owning a pet is a privilege – they are reliant on their owners to care for them and keep them safe and healthy. Sadly, Grimz was failed by his owner here.
“It’s a heart-breaking ending for Grimz, who was deliberately harmed when he deserved care and respect from his owners. The only potential saving grace in this case is that he was not put through prolonged pain and suffering.”
