A 37-year-old man has been banned from owning animals after killing a kitten.

Steven Nicholas, of Riverbank Caravan and Chalet Park, The Broadway, Minster, Sheppey, beat five-month-old kitten, Abigail, to death on December 21 last year.

Appearing at Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court, Nicholas pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and common assault on Corrina Worrall in Sheerness on the same date.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, part of which will be to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Nicholas was disqualified from owning animals for five years and ordered to pay £100 compensation to his assault victim and £200 prosecution costs.

The prosecution was brought by Kent Police.