Man who swung cat by its tail in court

Riain Richards, 20, from Ramsgate, Kent, is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and is expected to enter a plea at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court.

CCTV footage released by the RSPCA showed the animal’s attacker apparently dancing down a road in Ramsgate with the black cat at arm’s length in scenes of abuse that last for more than 30 seconds.

Two-year-old Mowgli is seen being swung by his tail and colliding with the arm of another man during the incident on the evening of October 29 last year.

He escaped the attack without injury although his owner, Michelle Buchanan, believes the incident affected him.

Speaking after the attack, the IT teacher from Ramsgate said: “It’s horrific. I can’t believe anyone would do something that cruel. Mowgli is emotional. He’s just distraught. He won’t go out of the door.

“When I got home, he was in my bed so that he would feel secure. Now, he’ll go as far as the door and turn back. He used to be outside constantly. He’d be scratching at the window.”