Gardener, 69, who drowned neighbour’s cat claims he was ‘driven to it’ after it dug up vegetable patch as he faces jail

AN angry gardener who drowned his neighbour's cat claimed he was "driven to it" because the pet kept digging up his vegetable plot.

Richard Giles, 69, grabbed hold of tabby cat Ruby after she repeatedly made her way into his garden.

Giles, from the village of Adber, near Sherborne, Dorset, said she was "ruining" his crops of carrots and leeks and callously drowned her in water.

The RSPCA was told about the matter and investigated Giles who was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He admitted to the charge, but claims he was "driven to it" after Ruby kept coming onto his property.

He told magistrates in Weymouth: "I said from get go I was guilty of killing the cat. I did it because I was driven to it.

"The cat kept coming on my property and ruining my fruit and vegetables. I work hard."

Ruby's owner, Shirley Gear-Evans, spent two days looking for her pet before she confronted Giles, and claims he has never apologised for killing her beloved pet.


Ms Gear-Evans, 65, said her neighbour freely admitted to killing Ruby and showed no remorse or offer an apology.

She said: "Ruby was a rescue cat and after I got her I kept her in the house for a few weeks so she could get used to her new home but soon she was outside exploring the fields around the house.

"Richard had introduced himself and at first we got along, but as soon as I said I was getting a cat he went mad.

"He was very unpleasant when I told him I had adopted a cat, suggesting that I ought to know that he didn't like cats.

"Our relationship quickly soured after that and he called me several times complaining about Ruby.

"When Ruby didn't return home on Saturday September 19 I searched the velds around the village but didn't find her. I was worried she might have gone into one of Richard's outbuildings and become trapped or hurt.

"When I saw him on the Monday morning I asked if he had seen Ruby. He said 'you won't find her, she's gone, I've killed her."

Matthew Knight, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "He drowned his neighbour's cat.

"Because the offence was so serious I recommend a starting option of custody."

Giles, who spent 20 years working for rope makers Bridport Gundry, had his sentencing adjourned for reports.

He will next appear at Weymouth Magistrates' Court for a pre-sentencing report on April 6.

The case bears similarities to the Beatrix Potter story of Peter Rabbit and the character Mr McGregor who tried to catch and kill rabbits ruining his allotment.

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