A MOTHER has spoken of her shock after her child's "twisted" killer was jailed for animal cruelty.

Lee Michael, 34, was jailed for 24 weeks on Tuesday for hitting a puppy so hard a chunk of her jaw was knocked out, and cruelly mistreating a cat which later died.

Wirral Magistrates heard Michael had changed his name since he, as Lee Khair, had been convicted of manslaughter for killing his two-year-old son Ryan Franklin-Khair in Dorset in 2002.

Ryan's mother, Cathy Jacques, of Blandford, said she was "shocked" to hear the news on Tuesday evening.

"I went online and saw his face everywhere, and I had trouble sleeping that night," she said.

"I wasn't shocked at the violence. He is violent, he is twisted.

"It was shock at his face staring back at me."

In 2003 Michael, then 22, was sentenced to seven years in prison for causing Ryan's death, after a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

The jury heard he was looking after the toddler at Mrs Jacques' home in Blandford when the boy was found by paramedics at the bottom of the stairs with head injuries and extensive bruising. He died in hospital two days later.

Former soldier Michael was released after serving half of his sentence and soon changed his name. He has been working in fitness in the Wirral area.

The judge said the case had "chilling echoes" of the attack on Ryan.

Mrs Jacques, 40, has previously criticised Michael's sentence for her son's death, saying he should have received a life term.

"This case indicates I was right all along, he should have had a longer sentence," she said.

"The people in charge of the justice system need to listen to the victims' families, we know a lot about these types of people, they do go on to re-offend.

"I am also worried that he can change his name, people in that area won't know what he has done."

In court on Tuesday, Michael, of Lower Thingwall Lane, Thingwall, was banned for life from keeping animals, ordered to pay £2,423 costs and undergo 12 months supervision after admitting five counts of causing unnecessary cruelty to animals - a pug puppy called Babs and a cat called Larry.

RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said the case involved "stomach-churning" cruelty.

"I feel we have only revealed the tip of the iceberg of events and we will never know exactly what poor Larry the cat went through in its ordeal and final moments," he said.

"However, I am proud that we have managed to save the puppy - now called Ruby, who is now getting the love, care and attention she deserves in a new home."