Man Who Reportedly Beheaded 20 Cats In North London Pleads Not Guilty To Cruelty Charge

A 56-year-old man who is believed to have decapitated a number of cats has denied animal cruelty after roughly 20 were found dead in-and-around Islington, North London. 

Appearing at Highbury Magistrates’ Court, David Avhanvhondo is alleged to have mutilated some of the animals over the course of roughly six months. According to PA News, Avhanvhondo was reported to the Metropolitan Police after members of the public discovered a number of dead cats in the vicinity of the Pleydell Estate, Islington. He was then arrested and charged by undercover officers in the early hours of Sunday (Feb. 19) on suspicion of animal cruelty offences.

During a hearing on Feb. 20, the court was told how Avhanvhondo allegedly “caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely cats, by an act, namely cutting them off and decapitating them” between September last year and February. He is also accused of carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal contrary to the Animal Welfare Act  2006.

Avhanvhondo entered not guilty pleas to both counts, and is due to appear in court for a further hearing on February 28.