Maximum Sentence for Colin Sherlock who tortured cat

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A MAN who has pleaded guilty to putting a cat in a microwave, a tumble dryer and a freezer has said it was "a drunken, stupid drugged-up mistake".

Colin Sherlock, 44, from Third Avenue, Dawlish said after a hearing before magistrates yesterday afternoon that he had "put his hands up" to causing the one-year-old, female, short-haired cat called Roxy "mental and physical torture and unnecessary suffering".

But magistrates warned him he faced jail for his acts of cat cruelty.

"I pleaded guilty. I put my hands up to it. I have made a mistake and I am going to be punished for it," said tattooed Sherlock as he left the court house in Higher Union Street, Torquay.

"It was a drunken, stupid, drugged-up mistake and if I have harmed anyone I apologise."

Prosecutor John Wyatt, on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court: "Sherlock caused unnecessary suffering to a female short-haired domestic cat by subjecting her to mental and physical torture through confining her in a microwave oven which was switched on, a tumble dryer which was switched on and by confining her in a freezer."

The incident is understood to have occurred in Dawlish.

Chairman of the bench Rita Hannaford said she would adjourn sentencing Sherlock so an "all options" report could be prepared by the Probation Service.

She said: "In view of your guilty plea, we cannot proceed with the matter today, because we require reports from the Probation Service.

"However, you are probably looking at custody for this matter and that is one of the matters that will be considered by the Probation Service."

Following the hearing, Mr Wyatt said both the police and the animal charity had worked together throughout the entirety of the case.

He added that the allegations were being treated "seriously" by both parties.

Sherlock was remanded on unconditional bail until November 5 when he will be sentenced at Torquay Magistrates Court.

A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old youth, both from Teignmouth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Torquay Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon.

They both pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing "unnecessary suffering" to a protected animal.

Their case has been adjourned until October 20 and they will next appear at Newton Abbot Youth Court.