Get tough with cat killers police told

Grieving pet owners want action to slow Angus boy racers

Police have been told to put the brakes on cat-killing boy racers in Forfar.

Two families left devastated by the death of their beloved pets have spoken out in a bid to get drivers to slow down.

Lorna Ogilvie and Michelle Williamson also want the law changed to make it a requirement to report the death of a cat on Britain’s roads.

Witnesses looked on in horror in Roberts Street when boy racers fatally injured two-year-old Sylvester while speeding along the 30mph stretch.

Lorna said: “It’s the last thing that I had of my mum – whoever has done this has taken that away from me.” Michelle’s eight-year-old daughter Jamileigh’s cat, Tigger, was also killed by boy racers in May who sped off from the scene.

Forfar councillor Braden Davy said it was time for “tougher enforcement” of speed limits

Police have been urged to take action against cat-killing “boy racers” in Forfar.

Two families left devastated by hitand-run incidents have spoken out in a bid to get drivers to slow down.

They also want it to become a legal requirement to have to report the death of a cat on the roads.

Witnesses looked on in horror on Wednesday night in Roberts Street when boy racers fatally injured a cat while speeding along the 30mph stretch.

The car struck two-year-old Sylvester before speeding up and leaving the scene.

A neighbour alerted owner Lorna Ogilvie after Sylvester managed to make it back along the road. She immediately called the vet but the cat died in her arms on the way for treatment.

“I just moved to the area in July but the young ones just have no consideration at all,” she said.

“They go up and down at high speed. I had to ask the council to put a gate in because I won’t let my niece go outside when she visits. My cat was used to being in the house but once he got to know the area he wanted to be out all the time.

“My neighbour alerted me to what had happened – the car was racing down the road and hit the cat. It didn’t stop – in fact it actually sped up and left the scene.”

Lorna said Sylvester was her mother’s cat.

“She died in March 2017 and I took ownership of the cat,” she said.

“It’s the last thing that I had of my mum - whoever has done this has taken that away from me.”

Lorna was comforted by Michelle Williamson, who lives at the other end of town in Old Halkerton Road.

Michelle said her eight-year-old daughter Jami-leigh’s cat Tigger was also killed in May by boy racers who also sped off from the scene.

“Tigger’s death affected my daughter’s schoolwork,” she said.

“She now lights a candle in Tigger’s memory every night.

“A month ago one of my neighbour’s cats was also killed in a hit-and-run. The police need to take action before a child ends up dead.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that it has received a number of complaints recently regarding drivers speeding in various parts of Angus.

“While we cannot be everywhere at once, we do try and give areas where concerns have been raised increased attention, and will continue to do so.

It’s the last thing that I had of my mum. LORNA OGILVIE

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Lorna Ogilvie, with a photograph of her pet Sylvester, wants the law changed to make it a requirement for drivers who kill cats on the roads to report incidents to the police.

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Lorna Ogilvie and Michelle Williamson with a picture of Sylvester and the ashes of Tigger.