PATRICK MEDFORD OF WELLING SENTENCED AFTER CAT SHOOTING TRAGEDY IN KENT

In a disturbing incident that has shocked the local community in Welling, Kent, Patrick Medford, born around 1940 and residing at 9 Yew Tree Close, was found guilty of shooting and killing a neighbor's pet cat named Ethel. The incident unfolded when Medford, an elderly man, used an air rifle—commonly employed for pigeon shooting—to target Ethel, who was an outdoor feline belonging to a nearby resident.

Medford openly admitted to shooting Ethel in the abdomen with his air rifle. The pellet lodged deep within her intestines, leading to severe internal injuries. Despite prompt emergency surgery aimed at saving her life, Ethel succumbed to her injuries. The tragic death of the cat has left her owner devastated, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The RSPCA was alerted to the case after Ethel’s owner contacted Inspector Harriet Daliday. The owner reported receiving a series of threatening emails from Medford concerning Ethel’s presence in the garden. It was also revealed that Medford possessed an air rifle, which he used for shooting pigeons, and that he had expressed hostility towards the cat.

Inspector Daliday visited Medford’s residence and was shown the rifle, which was kept in the upstairs rear bedroom overlooking the garden. The garden itself was equipped with multiple cat scarers and an automatic sprinkler system designed to deter cats and foxes, indicating Medford’s intent to keep animals away from his property.

Ballistics testing confirmed that the pellet recovered from Ethel matched Medford’s rifle, establishing a direct link between him and the shooting. Veterinary reports detailed the extent of Ethel’s injuries, noting that she was in severe shock and experiencing intense abdominal pain just two hours after returning home. An X-ray revealed a visible pellet within her abdomen, along with a fresh puncture wound consistent with recent gunshot trauma.

During her overnight stabilization, Ethel underwent exploratory abdominal surgery. Surgeons discovered four puncture wounds in her intestines—two in her small intestine and two in her colon—caused by the pellet. Despite the successful surgery, Ethel’s condition deteriorated due to sepsis-related complications, and she died despite all medical efforts.

Following the court proceedings, Inspector Daliday expressed her sorrow over the case, emphasizing the cruelty involved. She stated, “This is a tragic case in which a cat was callously shot and sadly died. This would have caused poor Ethel suffering and also caused a lot of heartbreak for her owner who lost her much-loved pet. Unfortunately, air rifle attacks are not as rare as we would like. The injuries caused by such attacks are horrific and often fatal as was the case with poor Ethel.”

In sentencing, Medford received a 16-week custodial sentence, which was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £600 in legal costs and £2,036 in compensation to Ethel’s owner. Additionally, he was disqualified from keeping any animals indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his actions and the court’s stance on animal cruelty.