'Monster' bites off kitten's ear and says he's lost count of how many times he punched it

A man who bit his kitten's ear off and 'lost count of how many times he punched him' has been locked up and banned from owning animals for life.

Aaron James Williamson, 20, was jailed for 12 weeks after a court heard about his sickening catalogue of abuse against the cat.

Williamson, of Grimsby, admitted he had lost count of how many times he had punched his kitten, called Litten, and did it whenever he was angry.

He tortured Litten, including biting his ear multiple times, leaving him with very little of it left.

District Judge Daniel Curtis described his acts as "sickening", before sentencing him to 12 weeks in prison and stopping him from owning animals for the rest of his life.

The RSPCA confirmed three kittens were rescued from Williamson's home on September 11, after a witness contacted the organisation to report animal cruelty.

RSPCA inspector Kate Burris said: "Williamson tortured this kitten. He admitted repeatedly biting Litten's ear, which resulted in the loss of most of it, and that he had lost count of the times he had punched Litten. He said he did it when he was angry.

"District Judge Curtis said his daily abuse of small, defenceless animals who were unable to harm him and were at his mercy was sickening.

"He said that Williamson had called himself a monster in interview, and that was accurate as to how he behaved.

"We are extremely grateful to the witnesses who contacted us, and got these kittens out of this situation despite the position that put them in. It was very brave.

"I was surprised how friendly Litten was when I first met him given the abuse he had suffered, he was so affectionate and loving and was rubbing his face against mine during his veterinary examination.

Williamson admitting one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten when he appeared at Grimsby Magistrates Court.

He was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

The maximum sentence for animal abusers in the UK currently stands at six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act and an unlimited fine.