A man from Potters Bar has been banned from keeping pets after he left a cat with serious injuries, including 15 broken ribs and a fractured jaw.

Denholm Bass, 20, of Church Lane, Potters Bar, appeared before Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on August 6 for sentencing, where he was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat named Marley

Bass inflicted blunt force trauma and physical violence resulting in non-accidental injuries between June 1, 2022 and June 29, 2022, at Elstree Way in Borehamwood.

He was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat called Nala, by the infliction of blunt force trauma and physical violence resulting in non-accidental injuries.

The 20-year-old was banned from keeping all animals for life and handed a 14-week prison, sentence suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £1,500 and a victim surcharge of £154.

The court heard Marley had sustained five episodes of injury between June 3 and June 27, 2022, including 15 fractured ribs and a fractured jaw.

Marley had been taken to a vet, but on his final visit, despite being placed in an oxygen tent and given pain relief injections, his breathing continued to deteriorate and he was put to sleep to prevent him suffering further as a result of the injuries caused by Bass.

An expert vet who examined the evidence said the severity of the 15 rib fractures were consistent with being stamped on, and that the three-year-old grey and white short-haired cat had clearly been injured on a repetitive basis and had been caused to suffer. 

"The evidence is indicative of physical abuse and in my opinion Marley was caused to suffer as a consequence of physical abuse," read his report.

"Suffering would have been experienced on a number of occasions via the mechanisms of fear, distress and pain for a period of at least 10 days, when having sustained bone fractures and at least three days when having sustained soft tissue trauma."

Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster said: "Poor Marley had suffered repeated instances of violent assaults and would have suffered immensely as a result of his injuries. This case highlights why it is never acceptable to physically abuse an animal."

Nala, who had an old fractured rib, bleeding within her eyes and bruising around the eyes was signed over to the care of the RSPCA and she has been rehomed. 

In mitigation the court was told the defendant had been diagnosed with PTSD and had been going through a difficult time during the offending period, even expressing remorse for his actions.