Court hears woman killed cat within hours of rescuing it
A woman who killed a cat within hours of rescuing it has kept her freedom.
Chloe Stanley, aka McNally, told the owner of Ash the moggie, during a conversation over a pet homing website, that she was a "fosterer and behaviourist" and could help the animal.
Newcastle Crown Court heard within 24 hours Stanley, who has mental health problems, sent a picture of Ash's dead body to the former owner and the police became involved.
The court heard the exact way Ash died remains a "mystery" but a judge said it was either blunt force trauma, choking or a combination of both.
Prosecutor Kate Barnes told the court Ash had behavioural issues and the PDSA had advised euthanasia to the owner.
Miss Barnes added: "She contacted the defendant through the Pets for Homes website where the defendant presented herself as a cat fosterer and behaviourist. She claimed that she could help Ash.
"On November 30 2024, the defendant attended the house to take Ash. "She found the defendant's behaviour towards Ash concerning, she was hissing, shaking a bottle of rice at the cat and stamping on the floor. Ash was distressed."
The court heard despite the owner's concerns, Stanley "insisted" on taking Ash.
Miss Barnes added: "Later on November 30 2024, the defendant sent her a video of Ash in a dog crate and a photograph, which unsettled her.
"Another photograph was sent the following morning which led her to believe that Ash was deceased. The defendant informed her that Ash was indeed deceased and that she had taken Ash's body to the vets."
The court heard when police attended Stanley's home she confessed she had killed the animal after it attacked her other cats and was aggressive towards her.
She told officers: "I blanked out and I didn't realise what I was actually doing at the start I knew what I was doing but when it came to when I was actually doing it, my anger kept building up and I didn't realise what I was actually doing and it came to the point where it stopped breathing”.
Stanley said Ash died on December 1 2024.
A post mortem found several internal and external injuries and concluded that the cat "suffered in extreme intensity until losing consciousness".
The 22-year-old, of Dorking Avenue, North Shields, North Tyneside, admitted causing unnecessary suffering.
Judge Stephen Earl sentenced her to ten months suspended for two years with rehabilitation requirements and a ten year ban on keeping animals.
The judge said how exactly Ash died is a "mystery" but added: "Within a very short space of time, under 24 hours, Ash was no more, Ash had died at your hands.
"How Ash died is a mystery but certainly at your hands and either blunt force trauma or some from of choking or a combination thereof."
The court heard Stanley was living in supported accommodation, where she should not have had any pets and has mental health problems.
Jane Foley, defending, said Stanley requires help, support and intervention from the probation service.