A MAN who was found guilty of killing ten cats has been sentenced in court.

Mark Dean Blazey, of Clayton Close, Weymouth, drowned and dumped the bodies of ten cats in February of last year.

He has been disqualified from owning any animal for five years with the cats still in his possession to be removed within 24 hours.

Blazey appeared before Poole Magistrates Court yesterday where, presiding justice, Alan Bennett said the offences were “so serious that a custodial sentence could have been imposed”.

Mitigating factors reduced the sentence.

Blazey, 55, was found guilty of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two counts of failing to undertake the duty of a person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare during a two day trial earlier this month.

As reported, the trial heard that Blazey was responsible for the cats and 'purposefully and forcibly' drowned the cats by submerging them in a body of water.

He dumped five of them in two suitcases at Weymouth Recycling Centre on February 8 last year, and returned to the same tip just day later, on February 15, and dumped five more dead cats in a black bin bag.

At sentencing, prosecutors outlined how Blazey had a temporary agreement with council to house one cat - which was then increased to seven. At the time of the offences he is said to have had around 40 cats living in his house.

Prosecutors described Blazey as “a man who refused all help" to reduce the number of cats he owned: saying he “didn’t trust anyone else to look after his cats.”

They outlined how a RSPCA inspector involved in the case, Patrick Bailey, noticed an overwhelming smell of urine when visiting Blazey’s address.

Prosecutors said the crime had “some level of pre-meditation” and said: “they (the cats) did suffer. The heart would have stopped beating after around five-to-ten minutes”.

Max Owen, mitigating, said Blazey was “clearly someone who loves animals” and suggested his client, living on universal credit, had sacrificed himself ‘almost everything’ to take care of the cats.

Mr Owen described Blazey as “very fond of his cats… they were of normal body weight, well-fed and seemed to be well cared for albeit in a very small flat.”

He said: “The reality is that losing his cats is going to be a devastating for him and a much greater punishment than any the court could give.”

As reported, during the trial the assistant manager of the recycling centre confirmed that he found five 'sopping wet' cats on both occasions.

At the conclusion of the trial, chair of the bench, Mr Davidge said that they found Blazey guilty of drowning the cats and causing them unnecessary suffering.

As well as being disqualified from owning any animal for five years, Blazey must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days, pay a £100 fine, £200 towards costs and a victims surcharge of £95.