LIAM WHITE – EXETER

❌LIAM WHITE – EXETER❌

Please do Clare’s law

2023 – A man who attacked his girlfriend and later killed their cat has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Liam White, 34, admitted assaulting his partner and causing unnecessary suffering to the animal after killing it with a hammer at their home. Despite the seriousness of the offences, he was spared jail and was not banned from keeping animals.

The court heard that the couple had been in a turbulent on-and-off relationship. During that time, White assaulted his partner on more than one occasion.

In one incident while they were on holiday at Butlins in Minehead, he headbutted her during an argument. In another, at their home in Crediton, he threw an Xbox controller at her, striking her elbow and leaving a minor injury after calling her abusive names.

The situation escalated further days later when the family cat was killed. Its body was later discovered in a litter tray, placed inside a rubbish bag. A post-mortem examination revealed the animal had suffered severe injuries, including a broken jaw and hip.

White claimed he had found the cat badly injured and believed it would not survive. He said he killed it with a hammer in what he described as an attempt to end its suffering, rather than taking it to a vet.

Appearing at Exeter Crown Court, White pleaded guilty to battery, assault causing actual bodily harm, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Judge Anna Richardson sentenced him to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete a Building Better Relationships programme and wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 120 days.

In addition, a five-year restraining order was imposed, preventing him from contacting his ex-partner.

The judge accepted that White may have intended to stop the animal’s suffering but criticised his actions, describing them as misguided and inadequate.

Prosecutors outlined the volatile nature of the relationship, explaining that arguments between the pair often escalated into violence. One altercation at the holiday park was even captured on a mobile phone, showing White headbutting his partner.

A second incident followed about a week later, again involving aggression after he had been drinking and playing online games.

In mitigation, the defence said White had no previous convictions for domestic violence, had accepted the relationship was over, and expressed remorse for his actions.

They added that he now recognises he made the wrong decision regarding the cat and accepts that it should have been taken to a vet instead.