Mayor of Margate Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell pleads guilty to two charges of animal cruelty
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by
Martin Jefferies
A Conservative councillor is to resign from his party after
admitting two charges of animal cruelty, according to a
statement.
Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell, who represents the Dane Valley Ward at
Thanet District Council, appeared at Sittingbourne Magistrates
Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to failing to provide
adequate flea protection for his five-week-old kitten.
He also admitted failing to take the animal to a vet.
A brief statement issued on Friday by the ruling Conservative
party in Thanet read: "We have received and accepted a letter of
resignation from Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell from the Conservative group
at Thanet District Council."
Mr Watt-Ruffell had already announced his intention to resign as
the Mayor of Margate, after magistrates banned him from keeping any
animals for 18 months.
He was given a 12-month community order and must carry out 80
hours of unpaid work. The 53-year-old security guard was also told
to pay £2,000 costs.
Mr Watt-Ruffell said the sentencing had left him "a broken
man".
The prosecution against him had been brought by the RSPCA. The
charity was called last August by builders working at Mr
Watt-Ruffell's home, who were concerned about the health of a white
and tortoiseshell cat.
The court heard that when inspectors arrived, they found Mr
Watt-Ruffell had left with the sick kitten.
He was told to return to the house with the animal, which died
minutes later. The kitten had been suffering from anaemia caused by
a flea allergy.
A long-time pet owner who has also taken in rescue cats in the
past, Mr Watt-Ruffell plans to appeal against his sentence.
Mr Watt-Ruffell's wife Alexandra Watt-Ruffell, who also appeared
in the dock on Wednesday, was cleared of all charges against
her.
Thursday, February 11 2010
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