He then cut off one of the cat's paws with a tomahawk, keeping it as a memento in his shed.
In May, he used a cage to capture another cat, named Midnight, from a neighbouring property. He then poured petrol on to the cat and set it alight, taking a video of the act on his cellphone.
Thinking the cat was dead he then dumped it.
Midnight survived the attack, but suffered severe burns in the process. Its ears were badly shrivelled and had to be amputated and its hearing has since been severely diminished.
A police search of Growcott's former partner's home turned up the cat's paw, the burned cage and the tomahawk.
When first interviewed by police he denied the charges, saying that he had been set up by an associate.
Growcott yesterday admitted the charges and was remanded on bail for sentencing on October 14.
He was also remanded on bail on eight charges of offering to sell methamphetamine, offering to sell cannabis, possession of two cannabis pipes, stealing a $7000 quad bike and receiving $1000 of stolen bike parts.
Lawyer Richard Bodle said the drugs charges had arisen from police analysis of Growcott's cellphone in connection with the animal cruelty charges. Growcott has yet to enter a plea to those offences.
- Greymouth Star
