A 49-year-old local man accused of mistreating and causing unnecessary suffering to a stray kitten appeared before the Magistrates’ Court today.

Yesterday, Sergio Orciel of Lynch’s Lane, was charged with cruelty to animals for an incident which allegedly took place in May earlier this year.

Following a Facebook appeal by members of the Save Gibraltar Street Cats Facebook group, the Royal Gibraltar Police carried out investigations and arrested Orciel after photos posted by the group showed a six-month-old kitten which had been left in a cage in the heat without any food or water.

Members from Save Gibraltar Street Cats took the cat to the veterinary clinic. The cat had suffered from blood loss after trying to claw its way out of the cage, and was found to be severely dehydrated. It died shortly after.

Orciel was granted legal aid and the case has been adjourned until Thursday 6^th October. He has been bailed out the sum of £500 on his own recognizance.  

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