Teenager fined after flinging cat from balcony

A teenager has been banned from keeping animals for seven years and fined £500 after flinging a neighbours' cat from a balcony during a drinking session.

Callum James Dean Palmer, 19, of Hinton Road in Fishponds, Bristol, pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence following an investigation by the RSPCA.

An 11-second long video captured by a friend on Snapchat shows Palmer leaning down to stroke the animal, before picking it up by its tail and throwing it. The BBC have chosen not to share the video as it is too distressing.

The black and white cat, named Apollo, lives on the same street and has since been checked for injuries by a vet. The owner said they were unaware of the abuse.

In the clip, Palmer is seen standing on a balcony in Kingswood, Bristol.

He is filmed as he leans down to stroke the cat, which had come onto the balcony and laid down on its back.

Palmer can be heard stating "I love cats" before moving his hand down its body and along the tail - which he then uses to lift the cat from the ground.

He then flings the pet off the balcony, high into the air.

The cat rotates several times before landing with a thud on a shed - which was approximately six metres (20ft) away and had sharp nails sticking out of the roof.

In a report to the court, a vet said the cat likely suffered "sudden, intense and severe fear, anxiety and pain", which was "avoidable and unnecessary".

"The perpetrator had a callous disregard for the cat's wellbeing," they said.

"The incident appears to have occurred purely for entertainment.

"Having inflicted violent trauma upon the cat I have seen no evidence to suggest that the perpetrator did anything to assist the cat, despite knowing that it was likely to be injured."

The vet added that it was not possible to say how long after the incident the animal continued to suffer, as the extent of the injuries sustained at the time were unknown.

During sentencing at Bristol Magistrates Court on 27 April, Palmer was ordered to carry out a 12-month community order and wear a 60-day alcohol abstinence tag.

In mitigation, he said he was remorseful, had not drunk spirits since that occasion, and no longer hung around with the same group of friends.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.