Father Escapes Prison After Drunkenly Tossing Kittens from Bridge into Thames
A father who shouted 'let them die' as he threw his daughter's pet kittens into the River Thames has avoided jail time, receiving a suspended sentence instead. Andrew Shephard, aged 59, admitted to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in a case that shocked the local community.
Incident Details and Court Proceedings
The incident occurred last November on Twickenham Bridge in south-west London. Shephard was assisting his daughter with rehoming the three kittens when, in a drunken state, he tipped them from a box into the water. Witnesses reported hearing him yell 'I want them to die, let them die' during the act. Police were called following reports of a man throwing cats into the river, and officers found two kittens wet and muddy but alive, while a third was rescued before falling in. The animals were said to be in shock, with their body temperatures dropping below 33 degrees Celsius.
At Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, February 17, prosecutor Manisha Kukadia described the act as extreme and deliberate, noting Shephard's intoxication as an aggravating factor. Shephard, who represented himself, expressed remorse, stating, 'I feel bad for what I done. I'm not normally like that. I just don't know what came over me at the time. I was incapacitated by alcohol.' His daughter, who had given him the kittens to help rehome them, was unaware of his actions, the court heard.
Sentencing and Rehabilitation
Magistrate Elizabeth Evans JP acknowledged the seriousness of the case, stating it crossed the custody threshold but opted for a suspended sentence due to Shephard's good chance of rehabilitation. Shephard, of no fixed address, was handed a 17-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, and must complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in costs. The court emphasized the unpleasant nature of the incident but highlighted Shephard's remorse and alcohol issues as factors in the sentencing decision.
