DOLLKEITH JARRETT'S CRUELTY IN AUDENSHAW AND ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE: KITTEN KILLED AND DOGS SEIZED

Dollkeith Anthony Jarrett, born on September 25, 1965, and previously residing in Audenshaw, Manchester, was involved in a tragic case of animal cruelty that shocked the local community. As of October 2021, he was living at Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7HG. The incident that brought him into the spotlight involved the death of a young kitten, which he threw from his balcony in a moment of anger and frustration.

According to reports, Jarrett had purchased the tiny feline just weeks prior as a birthday gift for his son. The kitten, described as no more than 10 or 11 weeks old, had reportedly dirtied the sofa instead of using her litter tray, which seemed to trigger Jarrett’s violent reaction. Witnesses in the neighborhood on Rowcon Close, Audenshaw, heard Jarrett threatening to kill the animal hours before the tragic event.

It was the neighbors who discovered the lifeless kitten, found some 28 feet away from the balcony, after hearing Jarrett’s threats. The balcony itself was approximately 16.5 feet high, and the vet’s examination confirmed that the kitten died from blunt trauma consistent with a fall from a significant height. The evidence pointed to a brutal act of cruelty, with the kitten’s body found in a location that suggested it was thrown with force.

Prosecutor Mark Harper, representing the RSPCA, detailed the severity of the case: “The balcony floor was approximately 16.5 feet high, and the kitten’s body was found some 28 feet out. The vet confirmed the cause of death was blunt trauma, consistent with falling from a height.”

Initially, Jarrett denied the charges, claiming to suffer from alcoholism, but he later changed his plea during the trial, admitting that he failed to protect the kitten from pain and suffering, which ultimately led to her death. During a previous hearing, it was revealed that Jarrett had thrown the kitten into the kitchen after she soiled the sofa. When he returned to the room, he believed the animal was dead and then threw her off the balcony, allegedly hoping that foxes would take her away.

At sentencing, Jarrett maintained that the kitten had ‘accidentally’ fallen after he opened the door to let her out. His defense lawyer, Karibo Lawson, argued that Jarrett had kept animals for years without issues and that this incident was isolated. Despite this, the court was not convinced, especially after learning that Jarrett had gone out the very next day, January 21, 2011, and purchased another kitten.

The judge condemned Jarrett’s actions, stating, “This is a case where a young animal has been abused by yourself, perhaps while in drink, and has led to the death of that animal. You are not a fit and proper person to have ownership or control of any animal.”

Following the case, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald expressed her satisfaction with the outcome: “I am very pleased with the verdict. It was a horrific and cruel assault on a defenseless kitten. I am extremely grateful to the witnesses who came forward, despite the difficulty, and to GMP for their assistance.”

Jarrett was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail and received a ban from owning animals for 10 years, which expired in May 2022. In a subsequent update in November 2021, further charges emerged when police found 15 dogs, including 12 puppies, at his residence on Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. The police had been alerted on February 1, 2021, after officers heard barking from his home.

Inspector Ryan King visited the property later that evening and discovered the animals confined in a pen on the kitchen floor, along with a black female crossbreed dog with swollen teats. Two adult bull breed-type dogs were also found in the backyard. The police learned that Jarrett claimed the dogs belonged to a friend and that he had not seen the friend in some time.

All 15 animals were seized and taken into RSPCA care. Microchipping records revealed that two of the adult dogs were registered to Jarrett, with the contact details on the microchips matching his information. When questioned, Jarrett could not provide a clear explanation for why his phone number was linked to the dogs’ microchips, suggesting he might have acquired the animals at some point and registered them in his name.

Subsequently, all the animals were rehomed, and Jarrett was ordered to pay £400 in costs. He received a 12-month ban from owning animals, which expired in June 2023. The court’s actions reflected the seriousness of his neglect and cruelty towards animals, highlighting the ongoing concern about animal welfare in the Audenshaw and Ashton-under-Lyne areas.