CHRISTOPHER HAROUN FROM ROTHERHITHE SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO CAT NIKITA IN LONDON

In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, Christopher Haroun, a resident of Rotherhithe in South-East London, was found guilty of inflicting severe injuries on a defenseless cat named Nikita. The incident, which took place in early January 2018, involved violent acts that resulted in the tragic death of the feline.

Haroun, born around 1993 and originally from Hampstead in North-West London, was employed as an operations support officer for the charity ShareAction at the time of the incident. His involvement in the abuse came to light after the victim, a woman from Basildon, discovered her beloved pet in a critically injured state upon returning home from work. The woman, who had been dating Haroun for six months, was shocked to find Nikita bleeding heavily and unable to move her hind legs.

Upon confronting Haroun, the woman learned of the brutal acts he had committed. He admitted to kicking Nikita, hitting her with a broom, and throwing objects at her, actions that caused her unnecessary suffering. The woman, who had owned Nikita since she was just eight weeks old, immediately took her to a veterinarian. Unfortunately, the vet diagnosed her with a suspected fractured spine and pelvis, injuries that were deemed irreparable. Despite efforts to save her, Nikita was euthanized the following morning.

The woman, who had recently moved to London from Australia to work as a paramedic for the London Ambulance Service, described her emotional turmoil following the incident. She explained that she had adopted Nikita and her sister Nala shortly after relocating, as she was still adjusting to her new environment and lacked a broad social circle. She shared that Nala was now doing much better, but the trauma had deeply affected her.

In court, the judge sentenced Haroun to a community order that includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 300 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £320 in costs and charges. Additionally, Haroun received a five-year ban from owning or keeping a cat, which will expire in June 2023, with no right of appeal for the first two years. This case highlights the serious consequences of animal cruelty and the importance of protecting vulnerable creatures from such violence.