‘Sadistic’ cat killer covered kitten in bleach before beating it to death

Lewis Hudson kicked kitten Binx (pictured) before killing her (Image: Triangle News) A cat killer who tortured his girlfriend’s kitten, shot it and covered it in bleach before beating it to death has been handed one of the longest jail sentences for animal cruelty. Lewis Hudson, 23, from Netherley in Liverpool , kicked Binx while wearing steel toe-capped boots, doused her with boiling hot water and smashed her teeth in with a shovel. RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes said after sentencing: “This case involved stomach churning and sadistic levels of cruelty over a prolonged period. “The extreme suffering Binx endured at the hands of Hudson was used to hurt and punish Binx’s owner – who was obviously devastated by what happened to her beloved pet.” Hudson was jailed for 27 months (Image: Merseyside Police) He was jailed for 27 months at Liverpool Crown Court and banned for life from owning a pet over his cruel campaign of abuse against the puss. The prison sentence given to Hudson on July 26 is thought to be one of the longest ever handed down for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. According to the RSPCA, the cat suffered “appalling levels of physical violence and psychological suffering” over a prolonged period before she was beaten to death. Hudson pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and also admitted putting a person in fear of violence by harassment. Hudson was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Getty) The court heard the appalling catalogue of abuse began after Hudson moved into a flat in Prescot, Merseyside, with his now ex-partner and Binx’s owner in August 2021. Hudson left the 11 month-old kitten in the shower with hot water running, used a BB gun to shoot her with pellets soaked in household cleaner and hit her with a mop soaked in bleach. He also filmed himself stamping on Binx wearing steel toe-cap boots, leaving her crying out in pain. Binx was found by her owner last July, lying motionless in the bath covered in blood after she had been hit with the shovel. A screenshot of messages Hudson sent Binx’s owner (Image: RSPCA) In a series of disturbing text messages sent to his partner on August 15 last year, Hudson told her: “if ye don’t get home now am gonna kill it”. Another message read: “u want her in a bin bag”. Bin’x owner returned home to find her kitten dead and the poor puss’s body covered in blood. Hudson was then arrested. The kitten’s body was collected by Mr Joynes who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity. Mr Joynes said in a witness statement: “Binx was wrapped in a bag, covered with a towel and contained within a cardboard box. “I saw she had a number of fresh looking wounds around her nasal area and chin. I noted there were no obvious signs that might suggest Binx had been involved in a road traffic accident and her claws did not appear scuffed. “The inside of her mouth was bloodied and I noted that both upper canines were broken. When handling Binx I noted a crisp packet type sound coming from the chest area which can be a sign of subcutaneous emphysema and indicative of chest trauma.” A post-mortem revealed Binx suffered fractured ribs and a lung puncture which led to her death. In a report compiled by an independent veterinary expert said: “Faeces and blood were reportedly seen in multiple areas of the premises, indicative that the cat was injured and mobile for a period of time immediately prior to death. “The most likely cause of death in this animal, otherwise healthy, was a traumatic and non-accidental pneumothorax. It is clear that the animal suffered multiple, different, blunt traumas and that the animal was conscious when this occurred. “Furthermore, the healing fractured rib and the aged bleeding, support the existence of a previous traumatic event to the chest, many days ahead of the fatal set of injuries listed above.” Mr Joynes said: “This is one of the most extreme examples of physical and psychological suffering inflicted on an animal I’ve seen in 14 years with the RSPCA. “This case involved nothing short of torture and is exactly why the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) bill was introduced in 2021 to increase sentencing powers for the most extreme cases of animal cruelty.” Judge Brian Cummings described Hudson’s actions as a “sickening catalogue of cruelty to a defenceless animal”. Hudson was given two years and three months for both offences against Binx and a five month sentence for the harassment offence to run concurrently. He was also given a 10 year restraining order. In mitigation, the court heard Hudson was genuinely remorseful and accepted he had done wrong.