Postman jailed for killing cat with mail trolley lid

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postman jailed for killing cat with mail trolley lid after it jumped in during his round
Postman Alan Vincent told eyewitnesses to 'f*** off'
Tiddy, 14, died of 'horrific internal injuries'
Vincent has since been sacked and left by his partner

A postman who killed a cat by repeatedly smashing her in the face with the lid of his mail trolley was jailed for six months yesterday.

Alan Vincent, 38, violently smashed the lid downing on the 'meowing and screeching' cat after she jumped in his trolley as he did his rounds in Windsor, Berkshire.

Witnessing the brutal attack, neighbours confronted Vincent, a postman for nine years, but he hurled the dying pet over a garden hedge before telling them to 'F*** off'.

The 14-year-old tortoise shell tabby, Tiddy, was found by her owner, Ami Hartridge, 34, and rushed to the vets. But she had suffered 'horrific internal injuries' and died hours later.

Vincent was jailed for six months yesterday after being found guilty of causing unnecessary animal suffering on the morning of March 11 last year.

Reading Magistrates Court heard Laura Lucardini, 72, a neighbour of Ms Hartridge, describe seeing Tiddy’s head and chest sticking out of the postman’s box.

Miss Lucardini said: 'I saw the postman bashing the lid down and realised he was smashing it on to the cat who was meowing loudly, screeching.'

She then saw Vincent take the cat from his mail trolley and throw it over the hedge.

Another witness, June Dye-Hodge Beardsley, ran out and confronted the postman before dialling 999.

The emergency services recording was played to the court, in which Vincent’s voice was clearly heard swearing at both women.

Robert Borwick, prosecuting, said Miss Lucardini went and found Mrs Hartridge and told her a cat like hers had been hurt by a postman.

Mr Borwick said: 'A distressed Ms Hartridge hurried home and found one of her cats was missing.

'She was searching the street when a van arrived with Paul McCarthy who was Vincent’s delivery manager.

'He had received a report about the attack and asked if she was looking for a cat.'

The pair found Tiddy behind the hedge and she was rushed to Alma Veterinary Hospital but died from her injuries.

Vincent told the court he found the cat in his box but did not smash the lid down on her.

He said: 'I tried to lift it out, but it clung on to the inside.' He added that he finally shooed her off and she was unhurt.

Finding Vincent guilty, chairman of magistrates Ian Bacon told him: 'We don’t believe your version of events.

'Tiddy died in a great deal of suffering and pain - a horrible death.

'You have offered no remorse whatsoever, none.'

Devastated: Tiddy's owner Ami Hartridge holds her other cat, Minnie. Her partner Stephen Hughes holds daughter Tallulah, two

The court heard Vincent, from Feltham, Middlesex, was sacked after the incident and the case also caused the end of his relationship with his partner.

Speaking after the verdict, Ms Hartridge’s partner, Stephen Hughes, 50, said: 'Justice has been done, but it won’t bring Tiddy back.

'Tallulah loved Tiddy and used to sit on the sofa with her, she was absolutely devastated when she found out she had died.

'What this man did to our cat was cruel and disgusting, I hope he has time to think about what he did as he sits in his prison cell.'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Truly shocking

[POSTMAN]

c***,and he'll only do 3 months.

[stokes11eg]

How awful!

[DGP1]

Jail time and losing your job.............was it really worth it when just lifting the cat out would have given the desired affect.

Still, he might find someone inside who loves him..........in a deep and meaningful way

[malcolm3011]

Truly shocking

He should have got a year in jail at least

[fishtank]

It's not what you would call normal behaviour and i've got pretty liberal ideas of what's normal.
I think the prison psychiatrists should have a little look before they decide to let him back out again....just to make sure he's not making a list...and checking it twice.

[Lounge Lizard]

Cat jumped in mail trolley - something very wrong with a bloke to take that action.
Dog jumped in my van yesterday after I forgot to shut the door - laughter, not anger, was my reaction.

[Indy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml'

Wonder if the ex-postie gave any reasons for doing what he did?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml'

Wonder if the ex-postie gave any reasons for doing what he did?

No he denied it:

Vincent told the court he found the cat in his box but did not smash the lid down on her.

He said: 'I tried to lift it out, but it clung on to the inside.' He added that he finally shooed her off and she was unhurt.

[TeeferTiger]

This makes me truly fuggin livid. He should suffer the same fate as the cat, poor thing

[bedrock]

let us know his address and make the w*****s life hell

[Judgee]

What a complete and utter bastard. I hope someone inside slams his head in a door a few times so he can see how he likes it!

[wiganpostie]

It may have defecated in his trolley or had a pee, causing him to go a bit hatstand - I know that sounds unlikely, but I have a cat that occasionally craps in the bath, even though we have a catflap for it to go outside

[Sliders]

what a twat ! I firmly believe in what goes around comes around, so he'll get his comeuppance of that I am sure