A MAN has appeared in court after a cat was hit by a car and killed because his dog chased it into the road.

Timothy Greenwood, of Ridings Fields in Brockholes, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to keep his pet collie on a lead on land covered by a dog control order.

Kirklees magistrates heard that the devastated cat owner watched it being run over after replaying CCTV footage covering her home.

Miles Barker, prosecuting on behalf of Kirklees Council, said that the majority of areas in Kirklees are subject to a dog control order.

This requires dogs to be kept on leads all times in designated areas.

Oakes Lane in Brockholes, where the incident happened on June 18, is covered by this order and there are three signs stating this.

The owner of the cat had opened her curtains to see her pet lying dead to the side of the road.

Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield
Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield

Mr Barker said: “She has CCTV covering the house and she watched this and saw a man walking a collie.

“The dog was off its lead and she saw it chase the cat.

“The cat ran into the road, followed by the dog and the cat was hit by a car.

“She was very upset about losing her pet.”

The incident was reported to dog wardens and they spoke to Greenwood.

Following the cat’s death he had put his dog on a lead and said he was sorry about what happened.

Greenwood, who was not represented, said he was unaware of the order in force and that the signs about it were not visible.

He claimed that his dog was not responsible for the cat being hit by the car and only chased it afterwards.

Greenwood told magistrates: “The cat was hit by a car, bounced back in front of me and the dog went after it - I think he wanted to play with it.

“I was unaware of the order (but) the dog is now on a lead at all times.”

Magistrates ordered him to pay £100 fine as well as £200 prosecution costs, £150 court charge and £20 victim surcharge.