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| Teenagers detained for mutilating kittens near Ruislip Golf Course | Teenagers detained for mutilating kittens near Ruislip Golf Course |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| This black animal carrier was used to transport the kittens | This black animal carrier was used to transport the kittens |
| A teenage boy and girl have been detained for the torture and killing of two kittens that were found cut open in a wooded area in west London. | |
| District Judge Hina Rai said that the killings near Ruislip Golf Course were "without a doubt the most awful offences against animals I have seen in this court". | District Judge Hina Rai said that the killings near Ruislip Golf Course were "without a doubt the most awful offences against animals I have seen in this court". |
| The boy, 17, had also dreamed of killing a human and "getting away with murder". | |
| He was given a 12-month detention and training order and the girl, 17, was given a nine-month detention order at Highbury Corner Youth Court. | |
| Warning: The following report contains graphic content and descriptions of animal cruelty. | Warning: The following report contains graphic content and descriptions of animal cruelty. |
| Both teenagers, who cannot be named because of their age, were also given a lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals. | Both teenagers, who cannot be named because of their age, were also given a lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals. |
| They pleaded guilty on 21 May to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals by mutilating and killing them. | They pleaded guilty on 21 May to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals by mutilating and killing them. |
| On 3 May, a member of the public who found the kittens warned another passerby not to go down the footpath because "there is something horrific down there". | On 3 May, a member of the public who found the kittens warned another passerby not to go down the footpath because "there is something horrific down there". |
| The black kittens were found with ropes attached to them and had been cut open. Also discovered at the scene were blowtorches, three knives and a pair of scissors. | The black kittens were found with ropes attached to them and had been cut open. Also discovered at the scene were blowtorches, three knives and a pair of scissors. |
| One kitten was found hanging from a rope and was completely ripped open, with its eyes bulging, the court heard. | One kitten was found hanging from a rope and was completely ripped open, with its eyes bulging, the court heard. |
| Alongside the tools, a significant amount of blood and fur were found. | Alongside the tools, a significant amount of blood and fur were found. |
| The teenagers also admitted one count of unlawful possession of a knife. | The teenagers also admitted one count of unlawful possession of a knife. |
| The pair were seen running away from the scene at the time - the Met Police originally issued this image which has been edited to protect the teenagers' identity | The pair were seen running away from the scene at the time - the Met Police originally issued this image which has been edited to protect the teenagers' identity |
| Sentencing the boy, Judge Rai told him his actions had been "extensively planned" and were "clearly premeditated". | Sentencing the boy, Judge Rai told him his actions had been "extensively planned" and were "clearly premeditated". |
| She told him: "You said sorry in your [police] interview but reports also show that you struggle to show empathy and realise that the kittens would suffer." | She told him: "You said sorry in your [police] interview but reports also show that you struggle to show empathy and realise that the kittens would suffer." |
| She added: "It seems you chose the kittens because they have emotion and you would have power over them." | She added: "It seems you chose the kittens because they have emotion and you would have power over them." |
| Notes on the boy's phone detailed his desire to kill another person. | Notes on the boy's phone detailed his desire to kill another person. |
| They read: "I really wanted to murder someone. | They read: "I really wanted to murder someone. |
| "Every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have come close. I have killed cats to reduce my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats." | "Every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have come close. I have killed cats to reduce my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats." |
| The boy, who may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which has yet to be diagnosed, had no previous convictions. | The boy, who may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which has yet to be diagnosed, had no previous convictions. |
| The kittens were found near Ruislip Golf Course | The kittens were found near Ruislip Golf Course |
| Judge Rai told the girl, who also had no previous convictions: "It is not clear who took the lead but from what I have read you were both equally responsible." | Judge Rai told the girl, who also had no previous convictions: "It is not clear who took the lead but from what I have read you were both equally responsible." |
| The court heard there were sinister items on the girl's mobile phone of mutilated pets and she had a fascination with dead human bodies. | The court heard there were sinister items on the girl's mobile phone of mutilated pets and she had a fascination with dead human bodies. |
| The judge told the girl she had "the potential for a bright future which makes this case shocking and extremely concerning". | The judge told the girl she had "the potential for a bright future which makes this case shocking and extremely concerning". |
| The girl had accepted she had been "cold and cruel" in her actions but this came after she had "distanced" herself from the offences. | The girl had accepted she had been "cold and cruel" in her actions but this came after she had "distanced" herself from the offences. |
| The judge added: "It was clearly premediated and there was evidence you may have been the instigator and more willing to cause the kittens suffering for attention from the mental health agencies." | The judge added: "It was clearly premediated and there was evidence you may have been the instigator and more willing to cause the kittens suffering for attention from the mental health agencies." |
| The girl had placed messages on Gumtree to buy three kittens because "she did not want them to be lonely", the court heard. | The girl had placed messages on Gumtree to buy three kittens because "she did not want them to be lonely", the court heard. |
| The court also ordered that the girl's pet rabbit be taken away from her. | |
| Det Con Rebecca Rickhuss, who led the investigation, said: "This was a deeply distressing case and as we continued to gather evidence, we grew concerned that torturing and killing cats would be a catalyst onto further violent offending. | Det Con Rebecca Rickhuss, who led the investigation, said: "This was a deeply distressing case and as we continued to gather evidence, we grew concerned that torturing and killing cats would be a catalyst onto further violent offending. |
| "I urge parents and carers to take an active interest in what their children are accessing online. | "I urge parents and carers to take an active interest in what their children are accessing online. |
| "On Defendant A's phone, we found graphic videos of animal cruelty, disturbing notes, and posts glorifying violence." | "On Defendant A's phone, we found graphic videos of animal cruelty, disturbing notes, and posts glorifying violence." |
| Additional reporting by PA Media | Additional reporting by PA Media |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk |