Animal cruelty charges dropped against man over 20 dead cats found on estate

A case has been dropped against a man after around 20 dead cats were found on an estate in London.

David Avhanvhondo, 56, pleaded not guilty to two animal cruelty charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court last month.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the same court on Friday the case has been dropped because it no longer met their legal test.

The CPS said ‘there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction’.

Concerns were raised by members of the public following a significant number dead cats in the vicinity of the Pleydell Estate in Islington, north London.

Plain-clothes officers were deployed to carry out overnight patrols in the area.

The suspect was stopped and arrested at around 4am on February 12.

Avhanvhondo, of King Square in Islington, denied causing unnecessary suffering and carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal.

A CPS spokesperson said: ‘Prosecutors must keep cases under continual review to ensure our legal test is met.

‘After receiving further evidence, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we discontinued the case.’

Detectives have been investigating the deaths of many cats since September 2022 and February 2023. 

They are still working through reports, but say they have identified around 20 so far.

However they believe the number could be as high as 40. 

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