Animal charities have demanded tougher action after it was revealed the evil monster who sexually abused a kitten would face a maximum of just six months in jail, under current laws.
The sickening physical and sexual abuse suffered by a nine-month-old tortoiseshell tabby called Minnie has shocked people around the world, after the RSPCA described her case as the worst they had ever seen.
Minnie was found last week with burns all over her body and, signs of sexual abuse, CornwallLive reports.
She was unable to stand and had a makeshift splint on her front right leg when she was discovered in Woking, Surrey.
Named Minnie because of her small size, the RSCPA says she is "showing small signs of improvement".
Now, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is renewing calls for tougher animal cruelty sentences - because Minnie's abuser would face a maximum of just six months in jail, under current laws.
Battersea’s deputy chief executive Peter Laurie said: “What kind of person would carry out such cruelty? This case is truly sickening and it’s awful to think of the fear and pain this kitten must have suffered. It’s also shocking that, under our current laws - even if the perpetrator was caught - the most they could get for this crime is six months in jail.”
“This awful case shows exactly why the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty needs to be raised from six months to five years. You only have to take one look at Minnie’s injuries to see that six months for this crime would be wholly inadequate.”
Battersea has been campaigning to see the maximum sentence for animal cruelty increase from six months to five years, to ensure the punishment really does fit the crime.
The Government first pledged to increase cruelty sentences to five years at the Conservative conference in 2017.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove launched a draft Bill to bring about this change when he visited Battersea in December 2017 but progress is "unacceptably slow," said Peter.
“We’re a nation of animal lovers and it’s time that our laws reflected this. Animals don’t have a voice of their own, so we must speak for them. Only by toughening such sentences can we send a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in the UK.”
The RSPCA said Minnie is still unable to stand - but is "showing small signs of improvement."
An RSPCA spokesman said: "Minnie has come off a drip and has been showing small signs of improvement, but sadly she still isn't able to stand yet.
"However we are hopeful that she is heading in the right direction as she is a little fighter. We are still urging anyone who has any information about what happened to Minnie to get in touch."
