Overview

• James Higginson pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals after launching a targeted campaign of abuse against his ex-girlfriend’s pets.
• The offences, carried out between March and September 2023, resulted in the deaths of two cats, Tiggy and Sushi, and severe injuries to a third, Chase, who was placed under RSPCA protection.
• Bournemouth Crown Court imposed a 15-month suspended sentence, a 20-year ban on owning animals and ordered Higginson to pay £500 in legal costs.
• Recorder Patrick Mason described the attacks as pointless and cruel but said a prison term would aggravate Higginson’s mental health struggles and undermine his prospects for rehabilitation.
• Caitlin Morley, the victim’s former partner, condemned the sentence as disgustingly lenient and argued that anyone who harms animals should face immediate custody.