TERRY BREE OF LEAMINGTON SPA SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH CRUELTY TO ELDERLY CAT

In a disturbing case that has shocked residents of Leamington Spa, Terry Bree, a local resident born in 1952 and residing on Brunswick Street, was found guilty of a brutal act of animal cruelty that resulted in the death of an elderly feline. The incident, captured on a doorbell camera, revealed Bree violently kicking a 21-year-old cat named Lenny, an act that occurred just days before the animal’s passing.

On September 16, 2023, Bree was out walking his German Shepherd, Sasha, in Hastang Fields early in the morning, shortly before 7 am. Witnesses saw him securing Sasha on her lead before roughly shaking her by the neck. As he continued his walk, Bree was caught on camera delivering a forceful kick to a nearby cat, Lenny, who was known to be elderly and frail. The footage sparked outrage among animal lovers and local residents alike.

Prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed addressed the Leamington Magistrates Court, explaining that the elderly cat had become unwell following the attack. Lenny’s condition deteriorated, leading to messes in his home and a reluctance to go outside, symptoms that indicated distress and suffering. Sadly, Lenny passed away on October 9, approximately three weeks after the incident. The court was informed that Bree, who had been a dog owner for over 35 years, did not harbor any dislike for cats but had experienced frustrations with stray felines in the area. An earlier incident, not caught on camera, involved Lenny scratching Sasha on the nose, which appeared to have contributed to Bree’s frustration, leading to the attack.

During the court proceedings, Bree’s defense lawyer, Jas Thiara, expressed remorse on behalf of her client. She stated that Bree “deeply regrets his actions” and was “very conscious that this has caused a public outcry.” Thiara also revealed that Bree had taken the initiative to report himself to the RSPCA following the incident, emphasizing his acceptance of responsibility and remorse. However, she acknowledged that it was impossible to determine the extent of injury Lenny might have sustained from the attack.

The owner of Lenny described her cat’s decline after the assault, stating that Lenny “went downhill” and ultimately died. The court heard that Bree and his partner had owned Sasha for two years, having adopted her from the Dog’s Trust charity after she had been kept in a crate for a year. Bree explained that his method of shaking Sasha by the collar was intended to get her to pay attention, a practice he claimed was common in his training.

In her ruling, Chair of the Bench Janis Cauthery addressed the Crown’s request for a ban on Bree owning animals. She stated, “We have considered this carefully and seen no evidence of cruelty towards your dog, so our disqualification order will prevent you from owning or keeping cats for five years.” The court also sentenced Bree to a 12-month community order, including 300 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Lenny’s owners, £185 in court costs, and a £114 victim surcharge. The court further imposed a five-year ban on Bree owning or keeping cats, which will expire in November 2028.