ALFRETON TEENS KEANE MITCHELL THORPE, ETHAN LEWIS, MITCH SMITH, AND SEIF NAILI INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC CAT MUTILATION IN RIDDINGS

In a disturbing incident that has shocked the community of Riddings near Alfreton, Derbyshire, four teenagers were involved in a heinous act of animal cruelty that garnered widespread condemnation. Keane Mitchell Thorpe, Ethan Lewis, Mitch Smith, and Seif Naili, all residents of Riddings, were found guilty of mutilating the body of a beloved family cat named Leo, an act that was reportedly carried out after the animal had already been killed by a dog.

The four youths, aged between 15 and 17 at the time, were seen on footage that captured their disturbing behavior. They reportedly encouraged each other as they committed the gruesome act in Riddings Park. The sequence of events included smashing a rock onto Leo’s head, striking him with a stick, and tying him up with rope. The teenagers then filmed their actions and shared the footage on Snapchat, boasting about their cruelty and showing a blatant disregard for animal welfare.

Leo’s severely mutilated body was discovered by a dog walker around 2:30 pm on August 11, 2016, along a pathway within Riddings Park. The remains revealed multiple injuries, with rope still tied around the cat’s waist, indicating the brutality of the attack. The post-mortem examination revealed that Leo was already deceased before the youths inflicted further injuries. It was determined that bite wounds, believed to have been caused by a large breed dog, had contributed to Leo’s death. The examination also uncovered horrific injuries to the cat’s abdomen, back, head, and chest, underscoring the severity of the violence inflicted.

During court proceedings, all four teenagers pleaded guilty to charges of outraging public decency through their indecent behavior—specifically, their act of beating and mutilating a defenseless animal. They appeared in court accompanied by their parents, reflecting the seriousness of the case. The court also heard that following the attack, the families of the youths faced threats and intimidation. Windows of their homes were smashed, and they were compelled to install panic alarms and live in hotels to ensure their safety amidst the community’s outrage.

As part of their sentencing, each of the teenagers received a 12-month youth referral order. Additionally, they were ordered to pay costs and compensation to the owner of Leo, acknowledging the emotional distress caused by their actions. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Riddings and has sparked ongoing discussions about animal cruelty and youth behavior in the area.