Five year ban after man left kitten with broken leg for two weeks

RSPCA inspectors were unable to get hold of Billings when they visited his address on a number of occasions

A Sheffield man has been given a five year ban on keeping animals after he left a kitten with a broken leg for at least two weeks.

The kitten, named Prince, was left suffering when his owner didn’t collect prescribed pain relief for a fortnight.

Kingston Billings, 19, of Merlin Way, pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence after a hearing held at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on September 15.

The court heard how Billings took Prince to a vets that were offering free treatment on January 9 last year. This was after the ginger and white kitten was unable to bear weight on his right back leg.

The vet was told the injury was caused on December 26, and an examination found Prince had a fracture which had been present for at least two weeks.

The vet gave Billings pain relief medication, advised him to keep the kitten indoors and asked him to attend a follow-up appointment on January 12. He did not return with Prince or collect the medication, and the matter was then reported to the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspectors were unable to get hold of Billings when they visited his address on a number of occasions.

Inspector Leanne Booth managed to contact him by telephone on February 12, but he said he had given Prince away and refused to engage any further.

Billings surrendered himself after he failed to attend a subsequent court hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest without bail.

A vet explained how the injury was caused by blunt force trauma, and in a statement, said: “Prince was caused to suffer in his owner’s care as they failed to seek veterinary treatment within an appropriate timeframe.

“They then failed to follow veterinary advice, collect the free analgesia to alleviate the kitten’s pain, failed to take back for further treatment and sold him in an injured state. Prince will have been suffering for a minimum period of 17 days.

“I would expect the average owner to take their cat to a vet within 24 hours if he was unable to put any weight on the leg.”

As well as the five year ban, Billings was issued an 18-month community order requiring 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £150.

Speaking after the case, Inspector Booth said: “It is heartbreaking that poor Prince was left to suffer from such a serious injury, and veterinary treatment should have been sought immediately to help him.”

Billings said that Prince was rehomed and, in mitigation, the court was told the defendant was actively seeking employment.