A 59-year-old man who threw three kittens into the River Thames from Twickenham Bridge has been given a suspended prison sentence. Andrew Shephard admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animals, which belonged to his daughter, during a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Manisha Kukadia told the court that members of the public witnessed the incident last November. Shephard was heard shouting “let them die” and “I want them to die” as he tipped the kittens from a box into the water.
One kitten was rescued before it fell, while the other two were found by police officers “wet and muddy” but alive. Both were in shock with body temperatures below 33C. Shephard told police he was “very drunk” and had a problem with alcohol, adding that he did not know “what came over me”.
Magistrate Elizabeth Evans said the case crossed the custody threshold but suspended the sentence due to Shephard’s good chance of rehabilitation. He received 17 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, pay a £154 surcharge, and £85 costs.
