Man who filmed cat torture spared jail

Jason Dale Rowling, 27, was yesterday sentenced in the Greymouth District Court to 200 hours of community work for wilful ill-treatment of an animal. Photo / File

A Blaketown man who filmed the prolonged torture of a cat after his friends set it alight and watched while it ran around aflame until it died, has been spared prison.

Jason Dale Rowling, 27, was yesterday sentenced in the Greymouth District Court to 200 hours of community work for wilful ill-treatment of an animal.

Judge David Saunders noted that the sentence would not necessarily satisfy the public's interest to denounce such crimes.

"On the face of it, to be dealing with somebody guilty of such an offence and not sending you to prison would be seen as an affront on the public," the judge told Rowling.

"What they do need to know is that you disclosed while you were in prison, and as a result of the influence of drugs."

Because Rowling had dealt with the contributing drug problem, it put "quite a different complexion" on the case and there appeared to be no rehabilitative benefit from another prison sentence, Judge Saunders said.

However, the penalty required more just than a community work sentence "as denunciation", and he imposed a four-month community detention on Rowling, with a curfew between 8pm and 6am.

"It is a very clear signal to you and the community that those involved in the cruelty of animals deserve to be penalised," Judge Saunders said.

The judge also remitted half of the $12,000 in court fines accrued by Rowling for driving offences, with the remainder to be remitted in six months' time as a "good behaviour bond" if Rowling complied with his sentence.

"As I say, actions speak louder than words," the judge said.

In sentencing submissions, defence lawyer George Linder said it was an important fact that Rowling "gave himself up" while in prison, a result of cleaning up his drug addiction and reconciling past bad behaviour while under the influence of methamphetamine.

Judge Saunders said that while Rowling was not the "principal offender" he contributed to the crime, and so there had to be some parity with the penalty the other offender, Hayden Growcott, had received for torturing the cat.

"This man was effectively there as a party by filming and it could be alleged, as encouraging it," the judge said.

Mr Linder pointed out that Growcott had been convicted of two charges of wilful mistreatment, while Rowling was "only a follower in this case".

"He was given a cellphone by one of the other associates and told to film what was happening."

Rowling had admitted the part the drug P played in the offence, and to his previous convictions, Mr Linder said.

Rowling was sent to prison in December last year, while the cat killing took place prior, in May.

"He has taken full responsibility. He has given himself up and shows remorse for what is a despicable act," Mr Linder said.

He said Rowling's actions were now well known in the community via media coverage, and the "horse has bolted" in seeking a suppression order.