Old Street cat deaths: Islington man charged with animal cruelty offences in north London

A man has appeared in court charged with animal cruelty offences after dead cats were found in Islington.

The Met Police received reports of animals found in the Pleydell Estate area, near Old Street, between September 2022 and February 2023.

Plainclothes officers were deployed to carry out overnight patrols.

At around 4.30am on Sunday (February 12) a man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty offences.

David Avhanvhondo, of King Square, London, was charged the next day with carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The 56-year-old appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 13, when he entered not guilty pleas.

He will appear again at the same court on Tuesday, February 28.

Officers are asking anyone who believes they have relevant information to call 101, providing the reference 2701641/23.