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Mayor's kitten had been 'sucked dry' by fleas
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Ted Watt-Ruffell: admitted animal cruelty
KENT NEWS:

The Mayor of Margate has been handed a 12-month community order after admitting two charges of animal cruelty.

In emotional scenes at Sittingbourne Magistrates Court today (Wed, Feb 10), Edwin Watt-Ruffell admitted giving inadequate flea treatment and failing to provide adequate veterinary care to a five-week-old kitten, in breach of the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.

The animal had been sucked dry of blood by the fleas, the court heard.

Watt-Ruffell, of Kingston Avenue, Garlinge, will have to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work over the next 12 months and pay £2,000 prosecution costs at a rate of £40 a month.

The prosecution had been brought by the RSPCA.

The case against him was outlined by prosecutor Hywel Jenkins.

He said on the morning of August 24 last year two workmen entered the home of Watt-Ruffell and his wife, to lay a new kitchen floor.

They encountered a spread-eagled, crying, dull-eyed, sick kitten which obviously had a flea problem and matted white and tortoiseshell fur.

The men complained to Watt-Ruffell, who shut it away in the living room despite their protests.

The workmen were so concerned that they contacted the RSPCA, but when officers called round that afternoon the kitten and Watt-Ruffell were nowhere to be seen.

Watt-Ruffell returned later with the animal, which was described as being in a “sorry state”.

He had been to the vets to seek treatment for the animal, but it was too little too late and by this time it was having difficulty breathing.

By the time the RSPCA officers had looked at it and taken it to their van it had died.

Later the kitten was found to have 150 fleas on its body and was “desperately anaemic”.

Mr Jenkins said Watt-Ruffell, 53, had “not noticed anything wrong with the cat”, which was four or five weeks old, but vets later decided its condition must have been deteriorating for about five days.

Paul Goldspring, defending, said his client had sought treatment for the animal, but the vets had been closed, although he accepted he could have sought emergency treatment for it.

The mayor, who broke down in tears as the cat’s condition was detailed, had been a long-time pet owner and taken in rescue cats in the past, the court was told.

Mr Goldspring said Watt-Ruffell had “acted ignorantly” and that the events had ended in a “tragic aftermath” that had placed a huge strain on his marriage.

He and his wife, who held hands in court, had separated for a time but are now back together, the court was told.

Mr Goldspring outlined his client’s previous good character and said his client, a security guard, had kept pets for a decade and previously provided them with good care.

Watt-Ruffell’s wife, Alexandra Watt-Ruffell, had also been in the dock, but the charges against her were dismissed after her husband changed his plea to guilty from not guilty after an hour’s recess.

Mr Goldspring said his client accepted that he might not be able to maintain his role as mayor, his term coming to an end in May.
POSTED: 10/02/2010 16:16:29

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Comments:
Added: Friday 12/02/2010 11:00:18 UK
This man should now resign all public offices immediately as a convicted animal abuser.


Paul Adlam, Ramsgate, Kent
Added: Friday 12/02/2010 09:40:40 UK
is anyone suprised hes guilty ? im not as he has a past, and that past is riddled with people who find him not liked through a whole array of reasons, he said he was innocent and even tried to make complaints about the press ?, now i class animal cruelty as bad as child molestation or child cruelty, with this if you were accused of something as serious as this and you said you were innocent would you then plead guilty ? no is the answer unless you are guilty ! stop paying him kcc !!!!!!!!!
micky, ramsgate, kent
Added: Thursday 11/02/2010 09:46:27 UK
This is a shameful episode. Another person would havehad a whacking great fine. He must not wait until May to resign, unless he is a complete worm.
Joss, Whitstable, Kent
Added: Thursday 11/02/2010 09:26:08 UK
Absolutely inexcusable negligence of his duty of care - how on earth can he be relied upon to discharge his civic duties?
Immediate resignation is called for - this is at best indicative of an inept and uncaring individual, and at worst willfully negligent to the point of malevolence.


Kevin Knight, Faversham, Kent
Added: Wednesday 10/02/2010 22:30:01 UK
The man should resign from all posts, especially Mayor. As Mayor he is a representative of the Queen, I am sure Her Majesty would not in no way wished to be represented or linked to someone who has been charged with this offence. Secondly his post as Mayor and District Councillor are roles of civic dignitary and his actions have brought shame, not only on himself but of all his coleagues of all parties. Resign Mr Watt-Ruffell.
Dennis Hart, Ramsgate, Kent
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