Man admits filming cat being set alight until it died

A man admits filming a cat burn to death. File photo

A West Coast freezing worker has today admitted filming a cat while his friends poured petrol over it and set alight, watching it run around ablaze until it died.

Blaketown man Jason Dale Rowling, 27, visited mates in Greymouth when they decided to take a drive to the beach.

They took with them a cat in a cage.

Rowling claims he did not know what evil plans his "associates" had for the feline.

But when they got to the beach, his mates poured petrol over the trapped animal.

Rowling said he chose to film what happened next on his cellphone to "avoid a more active role".

The cat was then set on fire. The cage was opened and the men watched while it ran around ablaze before it died, Christchurch District Court was told today.

Rowling, who pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful ill-treatment of an animal under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, later told police he had no idea what was going to happen when he got in the car.

He was on drugs at the time, he said, and was ashamed of his involvement.

His associates have also been charged, the court heard today.

The owner of the cat is unknown.

Defence counsel Tom Stevens said Rowling was "desperately ashamed".

Judge Jane McMeeken remanded Rowling in custody for sentence at Greymouth District Court on September 30.