Man killed his girlfriend's kitten by trying to get it 'stoned'

White pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Birmingham Magistrates Court. Photo / Wikimedia / JimmyGuano

A man who tortured his girlfriend's kitten by making it inhale cannabis smoke before stubbing a joint out on its face has been sentenced to 4 months in prison.

Robert White, 34, subjected Salem the cat to the 'barbaric and inhumane' attack because he thought it would be funny to get the animal 'stoned', a court heard.

He tried to make the kitten inhale the cannabis smoke before singeing its face and paws with a lit joint at his flat in Birmingham on May 16.

The cat was left with such severe third-degree burns that he later had to be put down by a vet.

White pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Birmingham Magistrates Court on November 21.

Yesterday he was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The court heard White admitted during interview that he had tried to get Salem 'stoned' while 'messing around' and smoking cannabis with friends.

Magistrates were told White made no attempts to get veterinary assistance for the suffering animal and that Salem was only taken to a vet the next day.

Rafe Turner, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said by that point the kitten "was in a collapsed and cold state and smelt of dirty water.

"He had dried candle wax on his nose and head and what looked like burns on his face"

The prognosis was such that sadly the cat had to be put to sleep.

"There were third degree burns to 70 to 80 per cent of the right-hand side of his face."

Daniel Wayne, defending, said his client has severe mental health issues and was addicted to amphetamine.

He said: "Sometimes he doesn't really know where or what is going on.

"This is a person who does not have previous convictions of a similar nature and is plagued by mental health issues."

The court also heard he had felt remorse over what happened.

White was banned from owning animals for life and was ordered to pay £350 costs and a £150 victim surcharge.

He was also ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation course to address his drug and alcohol issues.

After the hearing RSPCA inspector Beth Boyd said: 'It was just horrific. It is one of the worse cases I have had to investigate.

"I can not even think about what Salem must have gone through that night. At least some justice has been done for him."