Newport man banned from keeping animals for life

A man from Newport has been disqualified from keeping animals for life after a kitten left in his care was found with serious injuries including a fractured skull and broken tail.

The case

Andrew John Edwards of Beaufort Road, Newport, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on 24 February where he pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

What happened to Moxey

The four-month-old tabby kitten, called Moxey, had been placed in Edwards’ care by his daughter at his flat at the beginning of November 2024. When his daughter returned on 16 December and noticed the cat had a cloudy eye, Edwards finally took the kitten to a vet.

X-rays revealed bony damage to the front of Moxey’s skull along with multiple older fractures and dislocations to his tail. The kitten also had a split lip, an injury to his right eye, and swollen genitalia.

Edwards’ claims

When interviewed at his home, Edwards admitted he may have kicked and trodden on the kitten on two separate occasions but insisted both were unintentional. He claimed he might have accidentally kicked Moxey to the head while the kitten was hiding under his bed, and on another occasion said he trod on the cat while hanging up a coat, claiming he would not have heard Moxey crying out as he had earphones on.

Edwards said he was unaware of the seriousness of the injuries and had not thought anything of the presence of “nobbly” bits on the cat’s tail. He tried treating the kitten’s split lip with antiseptic spray rather than seeking veterinary attention.

Vet’s findings

A vet who examined Moxey said: “The cat’s right eye appeared twisted in the socket with some greying of the lens, but there appeared to be no pain reaction on feeling over the affected parts of his body. Pain relief was continued for a further week and he was signed off, though checked on a few other occasions for ongoing care.”

Magistrates’ response

Magistrates told Edwards it had been “nonsense” to claim the kitten’s injuries were accidental.

Sentencing

Edwards received a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was banned from keeping animals for life. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £1,400 and a victim surcharge of £114.

Recovery

After receiving treatment with the PDSA, Moxey was transferred into the care of the Merthyr RSPCA clinic where he continued his recovery.

In mitigation, the court heard Edwards had some mental health issues and that his daughter was now no longer speaking to him.