Cat Killer Caged

Camberwell Green Magistrates Court

A cat killer, who smothered his family’s female pet ‘Lola’ and buried her in the front garden, was locked-up for twelve weeks today.

Alistair Karl Molloy, 20, wrapped the tabby in a towel and squeezed the life out of her because she hissed at him, Camberwell Magistrates Court heard.

“You know this is up there with the most serious cases of animal welfare,” District Judge Tim Stone told Molloy. “You caused the death of this cat in the most horrendous way.

“No animal should go through anything like that.”

Molly, of Camberwell Green New Road, Camberwell Green pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Lola by way of mechanical asphyxiation at the family home on December 19, last year.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Andrews, representing the RSPCA, who brought the case, said they received a call on December 23, last year that a cat had been killed by strangulation.

Police visited the family address and Mollloy’s father Raymond confirmed his son had killed the family cat and buried it in the front garden.

Later that day an RSPCA officer, accompanied by police, visited the family and by now Lola had been dug up.

“The officer saw a plastic bag containing a dead cat and the defendant was very upset and crying,” Mr. Andrews told the court. 

“His father wanted an interview carried out immediately and the defendant did make some admissions.”

Molloy was quizzed again on May 9 this year.

“The defendant made a full admission to the strangulation of the cat. He said he wrapped the cat in a towel and strangled her and was holding the cat’s mouth.

“He answered: ‘Yes’ when asked if he intended to kill the cat, saying: ’It took a minute of two. The cat hissed at me and never got use’d to me or people. It was a mad moment.’

“A post mortem was performed and a report by Shaun Taylor concludes death was caused by the cat being wrapped in a towel and its chest being squeezed.

“The towel would have restricted the cat’s movement and it would have felt fear, distress, air hunger and pain.

“Suffering was caused,” added Mr. Andrews. “Alistair Molly describes the cat as struggling when in the towel.

“It is a very distressing case for all concerned. The cat suffered a death and would have suffered for one to two minutes.”

He asked for Molly to received a six-year banning from owning a pet. “The RSPCA have grave concerns this person does pose a significant risk to all animals.”

Molloy’s lawyer Rodney Coleman told the court: “In a moment of extreme pressure in his mind he behaved in a ruthless way to a defenceless animal. This was an isolated incident.”

Making the six-year disqualification order Judge Stone added: “It is an offence that is so serious that I am not in a position to suspend it.”