PADIHAM WOMAN JAILED FOR INCITING DOGS TO ATTACK AND KILL CAT
A "sadistic" Padiham woman has been jailed after causing her dogs to attack and kill her neighbour's elderly cat in her back garden.Alexandra Jade Gregson, 35, of Alma Street, was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court following an RSPCA prosecution.
RSPCA frontline officers investigated after a video posted on Snapchat showed her two dogs attacking a black and white cat named Poppy in the garden.
The deceased cat was later found in a bin near Gregson’s address.
In the video, Gregson can be heard repeatedly shouting commands such as “Get it Zola, get that little cat.
Go on Zola, get it!” The cat was seen being chased and frozen in fear as one of the dogs pounced on it.
A vet report indicated the dogs did not seem inclined to attack but responded to Gregson’s commands.
The report noted that Gregson made no effort to stop the attack and even encouraged it, seemingly finding it amusing.
Poppy, a 15-year-old cat suffering from arthritis, was unable to escape due to her condition.
The court heard that Gregson’s behavior was both inciting and persistent, with the attack lasting over a minute.
Post-mortem revealed injuries consistent with bites and blunt force trauma, including a torn liver and bleeding lesions.
The court concluded that Poppy's suffering was unnecessary and caused by Gregson's actions.
She was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment for animal welfare offences and received a total of 22 months for all offences.
Additionally, she received a lifetime ban from keeping animals and a confiscation order.
She was also ordered to pay costs of £9,906.74.
Judge Sara Dodd described her actions as “sadistic and persistent,” emphasizing that her dogs had no interest in attacking the cat before she goaded them, and stating that her encouragement was key to the attack.
