A man from Mile End in London has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to two cats and a dog by hitting, kicking and stamping on them.
Sajidur Rahman (dob 04/10/1997) of English Street, London E3 – who pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences – was also sentenced to a 12-month community order comprising 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 hours of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). He was also ordered to pay costs of £400 and a Victim Surcharge of £114.
The hearing took place at Willesden Magistrates Court on 19 November 2024.
The court heard that after a member of the public provided two videos of cats being abused to the RSPCA, the charity – accompanied by police – visited a property at Belle Vue Estate in Hendon, London NW4 in February.
The property was a one bedroom ground floor flat which smelt strongly of cat urine. It was the home of Rahman’s partner’s father but there were signs that others lived there too.
As well as the overpowering smell, RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster said: “I noticed a litter box that was full of cat faeces in the hallway … There were three cats roaming the house. ‘Amir’ a male brown rosetted bengal cat, ‘Bonnie’, a female entire tabby and white domestic cat and ‘Pippin’, a female elderly neutered tortie domestic shorthair cat.”
However, many other pets were found. There was a friendly apricot/tan standard poodle called Ayda at the property. And a further 19 cats were being kept behind a closed door in one cluttered room with poor ventilation. Some of the cats were in a ‘lean’ condition, with spine, ribs and hips prominent to the touch.
The police seized all 22 cats and Ayda the dog as well as a slider flip flop that looked similar to the slider worn by Rahman in the videos.
A further video featuring Rahman was later supplied to the RSPCA.
When expert witness vet Dr Sean Taylor reviewed and reported on the content of all three videos, he saw Rahman hitting and kicking Ayda the poodle; kicking Amir, a brown male rosetted bengal cat and stamping on Felix, a black and white domestic short hair cat. Later, an x-ray showed that Felix had a fractured rib.
Describing what he saw on the videos, Dr Taylor said that on 23 December 2023 Rahman “: appears to kick the dog ‘Ayda’ to the right side of her jaw and attempted to punch the dog to the head, causing her to experience fear and distress for a period of at least a number of seconds, probably longer.”
He added that on 28 December, “the cat ‘Amir’ was subjected to severe physical abuse by being restrained, pinned to the ground, elevated and then kicked to the body with significant force.”
The same day, Dr Taylor also observed that the cat ‘Felix’ was subjected to severe physical abuse by being thrown to the ground with force that resulted in the cat appearing to become insensible and disorientated. This was followed by a stamp to the right side of the chest and the x-rays produced (on 8 February) … show a fracture of the fourth right rib with fracture/healing characteristics (smooth callus formation with the fracture line still evident) consistent with having occurred on or around the time of this incident.”
He added that in his opinion all three animals were ‘caused to suffer’; ‘Ayda’ from fear and distress for a period of at least a number of seconds, possibly longer; while ‘Amir’ suffered pain, fear and distress for at least a number of hours, possibly longer. Meanwhile, ‘Felix’ suffered pain, fear and distress for a period of at least 10 days, possibly longer.
Rahman and his ex-partner moved out and all the animals, other than three cats which remained in the care of his ex-partner’s father, were signed over to the RSPCA. Many of the signed-over animals have now been rehomed.
RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster said: “I found the footage severely distressing and it is deeply upsetting to see the abuse and fear these animals were subjected to. Thankfully all of the animals involved in the footage have found new loving homes.
“Rahman inflicted appalling and totally unnecessary violence on these pets. Animals deserve to be shown kindness and respect. There is never an excuse for treating an animal in this way.”
