AIDAN MALONE'S CRUELTY IN KINGSTON UPON HULL: SCALDING KITTEN MORGANA LEFT IN AGONY
Aidan John Reece Malone, aged 30, of Owbridge Court, Midland Street, Hull HU1 2RJ, was found guilty in 2022 of neglecting the needs of a young kitten named Morgana, resulting in severe burns caused when she fell into a bath of scalding water.Despite the gravity of the injuries and the evident pain she endured, Malone was only handed a two-year ban from owning or caring for any animals, which is set to expire in January 2024.
Malone, who is also known as AJ Malone, admitted to neglecting Morgana on August 2, 2019, by failing to provide her with a suitable environment.
The case revealed that the eight-week-old kitten suffered extensive burns to her paws, abdomen, legs, and underside, injuries that prompted immediate veterinary intervention.
Morgana was taken to PDSA veterinary services after Malone reported her suffering from burns, which had caused her significant distress.
Following the emergency call, RSPCA Inspector Jilly Dickinson attended the veterinary clinic to assess Morgana’s condition.
She described the kitten’s injuries as severe, noting that Morgana was in considerable pain despite being administered pain relief medication.
The inspector recounted that Morgana was unable to sit or lie down comfortably, instead crouching in an unnatural position that indicated her discomfort.
Her eyes appeared droopy, almost as if she was on the verge of falling asleep, yet she would wake suddenly when moved or touched.
The kitten was wrapped in a blanket to help stabilize her, and while resting her head on the blanket, she seemed to drift into sleep.
However, her exhaustion was apparent, and she struggled to find a position that alleviated her pain, despite ongoing medication.
Inspector Dickinson described the scene as heartbreaking, emphasizing the extent of Morgana’s suffering.
During the court proceedings, Malone explained that the incident occurred because Morgana had managed to get underneath a gap in the bathroom door and subsequently fell into the bath, which he had left unattended.
The court was informed that a veterinary report concluded that Morgana’s needs had not been adequately met, citing that her welfare was compromised due to the failure to provide a suitable environment.
The report stated, “In my opinion, the needs of Morgana have not been met to the extent required by good practice due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal failing to provide a suitable environment.” Malone admitted that he was inexperienced in caring for cats and claimed to have taken Morgana to the vet on three separate occasions out of concern for her condition.
He acknowledged that he did not take sufficient steps to prevent her from entering the bathroom, specifically failing to secure the door properly.
Following the incident, Malone stated he had since replaced the bathroom door to prevent a recurrence of such an event.
Initially, Malone denied the charges but later changed his plea.
He faced two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Morgana by neglecting her needs and failing to seek veterinary care for her burns.
However, the court dismissed these specific charges, focusing instead on the neglect aspect.
Morgana was subsequently surrendered into the care of the RSPCA, where she has been receiving ongoing treatment.
The organization has announced that she will be available for re-homing once she has recovered sufficiently.
The court sentenced Malone to a two-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £327 in costs and charges.
Additionally, he was banned from owning or caring for any animals for a period of two years, a ban that expired in January 2024.
