A MAN who killed a cat by putting it into a sack and drowning it in a water butt because he thought it would spread Covid has avoided a jail sentence.

Dorset man Richard Giles grabbed hold of tabby cat Ruby after he found her in his kitchen, drowned her and threw her body in a ditch, Weymouth Magistrates Court heard.

The court heard the 'extreme suffering' to the cat was caused by 69-year-old Giles on September 19 last year after he said the animal repeatedly 'ruined' his crops and kept coming onto his property in Adber, near Sherborne.

Ruby's owner and Giles' neighbour, former NHS worker Shirley Gear-Evans, spent two days looking for her pet before she confronted Giles.

Matthew Knight, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "On September 21 Mrs Evans approached Giles who said 'you won't find her she's gone, I killed her'.

"He had drowned and killed the cat because he said he was worried about germs on his patch."

Katrina Knill, veterinary at Newton Clarke Surgeons, Sherborne, said: "When an animal is held under water it holds its breath, which causes air hunger.

"This can be very distressing to watch. It's my professional opinion this was an inhumane act and caused extreme suffering."

Probation officer Kristen McCormack said: "His wife had died six years previously from motor neuron disease. He cared for his wife before her death.

"The cat would enter his home and leave hairs. Cleaning up after the cat triggered memories of looking after his wife."

Mitigating, Des Reynolds said: "He [Giles] was the former owner of Adber Weld and Crane Hire - which employed 35 staff.

"Along with his wife, he constructed a wildlife haven near his home for birds.

"He saw the cat as a threat to the bird sanctuary, and was worried the cat would bring Covid into his home.

"He found the cat in his kitchen and put it into a sack and drowned it in a water bucket behind his property."

Sentencing, chairman of the bench Richard MacRae said the case was a 'highly emotional issue'.

He said: "This is a very serious offence which has caused a lot of distress to the owner and public.

"It was a deliberate act. There was very high level of suffering and it was an inhumane act.

"However, on this occasion we're imposing a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months."

The sentence means Giles cannot commit any offence within the next 12 months or it may trigger a custodial sentence.

Giles must pay court costs of £600, a victim surcharge of £128 and compensation of £1,000 to the cat's owner due to the distress caused.