A man has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after he let his two dogs run free and kill three pet cats.

On three occasions Staffordshire bull terriers Kizy and Dred were allowed out of the Hailsham home of owners Chaz Welch and Rebecca Taylor, of Mortain Park.

Eastbourne magistrates heard the Smithson family, of Stoney Lane, Hailsham, spotted their pet cat Tinsel trapped in the jaws of the two dogs.

Andrew Foreman, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "Two of the daughters attempted to try and get the cat from the dogs.

"One daughter was able to rescue the cat but the dogs continued to jump up at her trying to attack the cat in her arms."

Despite a vet's efforts to save the cat, Tinsel died two days after the incident.

The dogs were found wandering in the high street area of Hailsham by council animal welfare officers. An order to destroy the dogs was carried out the same day.

The court heard how Warren Earp, Wealden District Council's animal welfare officer, had interviewed Mr Welch after the incident.

In a statement read out in court, Mr Earp said: "Mr Welch showed no remorse. I showed him pictures of the cats and he said it could not have been his dogs because the cats still had their heads attached."

Mr Welch and Miss Taylor later admitted three charges of failing to adequately control the two terriers.

Welch was also ordered to pay £101 compensation to the RSPCA and £160 costs.

Miss Taylor was previously given the same sentence at an earlier hearing.

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