Gardener facing jail for drowning cat that dug up his veg patch
For widow Shirley gear-Evans, ruby the rescue cat was her only company during the long, relentless weeks of lockdown.
So when the tabby went missing, the 65-year-old former NhS worker was distraught and spent two days searching the fields around her home.
Little did she know, her pet was already dead – drowned by her neighbour because the cat had dug up his vegetable patch.
Now richard giles is facing jail for the killing of ruby, who he claimed was ruining his carrots and leeks. the 69-year-old gardener had waited two days to tell Mrs gear-Evans that he had drowned her cat in a water butt. And he showed no remorse for his actions and did not apologise, she said.
the incident prompted outrage among residents in the hamlet of Adber, near Sherbirds
‘He must be deeply disturbed’
borne, Dorset. Animal rights group Peta urged magistrates to make an example of giles when he is sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by weymouth magistrates next month.
Mrs gear-Evans moved to Adber in May 2019 and took in rescue cat ruby to keep her company a month later.
She said: ‘richard had introduced himself and at first we got along, but as soon as i said i was getting a cat he went mad.
‘he was very unpleasant when i told him i had adopted a cat, suggesting that i ought to know that he didn’t like cats.’
ruby went missing that September and Mrs gear-Evans thought her pet may have gone into one of giles’s outbuildings.
She said: ‘ when i saw him [later] i asked if he had seen ruby. he said,“You won’t find her, she’s gone, i’ve killed her”. he has told neighbours he did it to protect local wildlife, he was saying ruby was killing the but i really think he just didn’t like my cat.’ Mrs gearEvans added: ‘ruby was my only companion throughout lockdown. i wouldn’t feel comfortable getting another pet in case he killed that one too.’
the prosecution was brought by the rSPCA and giles admitted the offence, which carries a maximum jail sentence of six months, earlier this month.
he told the court: ‘i said from get go i was guilty of killing the cat. i did it because i was driven to it. the cat kept coming on my property and ruining my fruit and vegetables. i work hard.’
Matthew knight, prosecuting for the rSPCA, said: ‘Because the offence was so serious i recommend a starting option of custody.’ A neighbour said yesterday: ‘A lot of people in the village are very upset.’
giles has lived in Adber for more than 25 years and owns a house worth about £1million.
one resident said: ‘he has upset quite a few people in the village because he doesn’t like our security lights being on.’
Elisa Allen, director of Peta, said: ‘the fear and pain this cat endured at this man’s hands is deeply disturbing, and he must be deeply disturbed.’
the hearing has been adjourned until April 6.