Two 17-year-olds have been sentenced for the 'sadistic' torture and killing of two kittens in a wooded area near Ruislip, northwest London. The boy and girl pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the protected animals, with the boy also admitting to possession of a knife.
The court heard that the boy, who expressed a desire to kill a human, butchered a small black kitten and hung it with rope in May. Judge Rai described the offences as 'the most awful against animals I have seen in this court', noting the boy's actions were 'extensively planned' and 'clearly premeditated'.
Notes on the boy's phone revealed his intentions: 'I really wanted to murder someone. Every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have come close. I have killed cats to reduce my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats.'
The boy was handed a 12-month detention and training order, while the girl received nine months in custody. Both cannot be named due to their age. The boy showed no reaction in court.
Prosecutor Valerie Benjamin highlighted the 'sadistic' nature of the crimes, noting the planning involved and the boy's 'desire to go on to killing humans'. The pair were reported missing a month after their arrest, later found at a bus stop with a bag containing clothes, toiletries, and tins of tuna.
