A MAN who attacked and killed his former girlfriend’s cat has been banned from keeping animals for life.

Thomas John Hogarth, 63, of Canterbury Way, Jarrow, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of causing unnecessary suffering to a female tortoiseshell cat called Sophie by inflicting blunt force trauma leading to her death.

He also failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the animal for an appropriate and humane death were met, as well as another offence under the Criminal Damage Act for destroying property, namely a cat belonging to Aileen Holmes, without lawful excuse.

The incident happened at the home he shared with his then girlfriend in The Crescent, Jarrow, on Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

RSPCA inspector Catherine Maddison said: “He told the court that Sophie had gone to the toilet on the floor and he lost his temper and saw red.

“He said he chucked her on the patio and when he realised she was hurt he didn’t know what else to do but to stamp on her head. He then disposed of her body in the bin outside.

“This is a horrible act of cruelty which left nine-year-old cat Sophie with a fractured skull and neck.

“These horrific injuries would have caused her a great deal of suffering and pain and she died as a result. It is never acceptable to hurt an animal in this way.

“Sophie’s owner Aileen, who also has six other cats, has been left devastated by the incident.”

Sophie’s owner, Ms Holmes, said: “I’m relieved it’s all over now. It can’t bring my Sophie back but at least he has been named and shamed now.

“This has completely ripped my life apart. I couldn’t live in that same house any longer with those horrible memories and it has upset my whole family.

“Sophie was my cat but she was his pet too. She was always jumping on his lap and he called her ‘our Sophie’. I just don’t know how someone could do that.”

Hogarth was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, 30 days rehabilitation, £150 in costs and £200 in compensation to the owner, as well as a lifetime ban on owning animals.