A HORRIFYING video shows the moment a twisted yob put his pet cat’s head in his mouth and bit down.
Craig Mills is also seen beating the defenceless animal – which later died – in a clip secretly filmed by his partner.
The disturbing footage helped land Mills, currently living in Lumphinnans, Fife, in court earlier this month where he admitted abusing and killing two-year-old Pippa, including by throwing her against a wall.
Mills’ former partner, David Walker, has now released his footage in a bid to prove he had nothing to do with the horrendous cruelty inflicted on the animal.
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO
David, 29, is in hiding and living in fear after being verbally abused by locals who wrongly believe he was “in on” the attacks.
David’s video clearly shows Mills, 22, apparently unaware of the camera, gripping the cat and striking it hard on the body with his hand.
The camera is moved and Mills can be seen again, still holding Pippa, and delivering several more blows.
After the ninth blow, Mills can clearly be heard twice screaming at the cat: “Who are you hissing at?”
He then forces the front half of the cat’s head into his mouth and bites.
The desperate animal manages to spring clear, appearing to leave Mills with a possible injury to the side of his face.
Mills then gets up to leave the room and a clearly shocked David is seen recovering the camera.
On July 7, at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Mills admitted “acts of cruelty against a family cat, Pippa, in that you did restrain said cat on your knee, distressing it, and cause it to urinate, thereafter repeatedly punch and slap said cat, put its head in your mouth and bite it, forcibly throw it against a wall and kill said cat”.
The incidents happened between 9 April and 30 September 2015, at the home the couple shared in Lochgelly, Fife.
The charge stated that Mills, who is due to be sentenced next month, had behaved “in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm”.
Today, David Walker said he had been forced to move away from his home, in fear of his life, after vandals daubed “cat killer” and “grass” on the windows.
David described the covert filming of his former partner as “the only way” he could get evidence of Mills’ cruelty.
David said: “He actually hammered me and smashed my phone as soon as I told him I’d got him doing that. Luckily I saved it on to my Google Drive. He’s a sick and twisted individual.”
He added: “My mum and dad show breed dogs and my sister runs her own grooming business. I’ve been brought up with animals – I’d never hurt them.”
Mills could not be contacted for comment.
Harry Huyton, director of animal welfare charity OneKind Scotland, said: “This case involved horrific cruelty over a prolonged period of time, ending in the heartless killing of the family pet.
“In such cases, we believe that the court must not hesitate in serving a lifetime ban on keeping pets. Anything less will expose more animals to the risk of abuse.”
“As is so often the way, the perpetrator in this case also has a record of domestic abuse. The link between animal cruelty and domestic violence is well-established and it’s not unusual in such cases for the threat or actual abuse of a pet to prevent partners from leaving situations of domestic abuse.”
Dominic Sullivan, Cats Protection’s director of legal services, said: “We were shocked and horrified to hear about Mr Mills’ brutal and repeated abuse and cruelty towards this poor cat, Pippa.
“He subjected this poor cat to a number of terrible attacks that would have caused her immense pain and suffering before he eventually killed her. ”
“Sentencing is of course, a matter for the sheriff who we understand has called for reports and may have to view the video of the incident before sentencing.
“Many of Cats Protection’s supporters will be extremely distressed and angry about this brutal incident and will consider that the maximum penalty for an act of this nature is insufficient.”
