Boy charged after video of cat being thrown by tail emerges online

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A teenager will appear in court after a video was circulated online showing a cat being thrown by its tail over a garden fence.

The 15-year-old boy, from Harlow in Essex, has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He has been remanded to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Friday, Essex Police said.

The boy cannot be named for legal reasons under Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, and police have pointed out that this extends to people disclosing his identity online.

A breach could result in possible legal action, police said.

The force said they have received reports that people attended the teenager's home.

It added that it understood the community is upset by the footage, but urged people not to take matters into their own hands and allow the court process to run its course.

The boy is in police custody.

Press Association