CONVICTED (2016) | David James Holden, born c. 1982, of Elmbank Road, Middleton, Rochdale M24 2FR – suffocated a kitten then buried the body in a local graveyard Holden confessed to neighbours he killed the young cat, called Minnie, and wrapped him in plastic bags and put him in their wheelie bin. He later took him to Rochdale Cemetery. Holden’s neighbours alerted the RSPCA, who launched an investigation and later discovered the dead animal. Following his arrest, Holden claimed that the kitten had died when he tried to pull him out from underneath a kitchen unit to put him outside. He claimed he hadn’t meant to kill Minnie. The kitten’s body was taken for a post mortem where the vet concluded the kitten had died from asphyxiation which was probably the result of chest compression or suffocation. Holden later pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal resulting in death. At the time of the incident, in May 2015, Holden was subject to a community order for assaulting his former partner. Sentencing Holden the presiding judge said: “We do feel that this offence is so serious only a custodial sentence is appropriate. “You caused the death and unnecessary suffering to an animal while under the influence of alcohol and then disposed of it in the cemetery. “But we have taken into account that you have turned your life around.” Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; £340 costs. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires April 2026). Manchester Evening News