2008: TUMBLE DRIER KITTEN KILLING ONE OF WORST, SAYS RSPCA
A disturbing case involving a jilted husband who fatally harmed his estranged wife’s kitten by placing it into a tumble dryer has been marked as one of the most severe animal cruelty incidents in the UK.Philip Gannon, who resides in Walkden, unlawfully entered Jacqueline Hodson’s residence without permission while she was away and murdered the kitten he had purchased as a gift.
According to figures published today, Gannon, aged 42 who was previously sentenced to six months in jail last November, was among 45 individuals prosecuted by the RSPCA in 2007.
The data further reveal that nationally, the number of people convicted of animal cruelty increased by nearly 25% last year, amounting to 1,149 cases.
Tim Wass, the chief inspector of the RSPCA, remarked: “Our main objective in prosecuting is to prevent suffering and safeguard animals.
It’s promising to see the courts taking this seriously and issuing more banning orders to stop convicted individuals from owning animals in the future.” Gannon, aged 42 and living on Bullrush Close, put the kitten inside a tumble dryer and turned it on.
The next day, Ms Hodson discovered the cat.
Although he denied causing unnecessary suffering, magistrates convicted Gannon.
He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, an appeal was filed but ultimately denied.
Cathy Hyde, the RSPCA inspector for the Bolton area, stated: “The sentence given to him reflects the brutality and cruelty involved in this case.
His actions were truly shocking.” There was a 42% increase in prison sentences for animal cruelty compared to the previous year, alongside 71 suspended sentences.
Convictions for cruelty against dogs grew by over a third, totaling 1,197 incidents last year.
Prison sentences included cases such as an owner who stabbed and tortured a 10-month-old border collie, and another who killed his cat by kicking and slapping it due to muddy paws.
The total convictions for animal cruelty increased, and the number of orders banning offenders from keeping animals rose by 26%, reaching 861 last year.
