Man admits throwing kittens into River Thames

A man has admitted throwing kittens off a west London bridge into the Thames, saying "what I did was horrible".

Andrew Shephard, 58, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court heard that on 30 November, Shephard was on Twickenham Bridge with three of the animals in a box and "tipped them over the edge into the river".

Prosecutor Jack Wadsworth said this was seen by members of the public - one of whom managed to save a kitten before it fell in, while the other two kittens entered the water.

Witnesses described hearing the defendant saying, "let them die, I want them to die", the court was told.

After the incident, Shephard said "he was very drunk and had a problem with alcohol and did not intend on killing them but his daughter could no longer look after them", Mr Wadsworth told the hearing.

Of his offending, Shephard, who represented himself, said: "I must say that I was completely out of it.

"I was absolutely paralytic. I don't really remember anything about what happened.

"I do realise what I did was horrible and I have to look myself every morning in the mirror and know what I did which is completely out of my normal behaviour.

"I can't say any more than that."

One of the kittens was taken home by a rescuer, while two were taken to a vet in "bad condition", the prosecutor added.

The defendant, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on 17 February at the same court after a pre-sentence report is completed.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]