A manipulative thug who filmed himself throwing his ex-girlfriend’s cat across a room and then sent the horrifying video to her has been jailed.
The disturbing attack was carried out by Brandon Mathews, from Canterbury, in an effort to convince his former partner to come home from a women’s refuge.
But instead she passed the footage to police and her 25-year-old tormentor was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
In the shocking video, which was sent via Facebook Messenger, Mathews can be heard abusing his ex-girlfriend and demanding she return home to collect her cat.
He then picks the animal up by its neck and throws it off-screen, with a thud heard as it hits the wall or floor.
The 19-second clip – shared with KentOnline without sound at the victim’s request – ends with Mathews smirking.
But the smile was wiped off his face as he was put behind bars at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court this month.
Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told the court the horrific incident happened on December 5, 2023.
“[Mathews] had been in a relationship with the woman on and off for three years and she had been living with him for a couple of months,” she said.
“But on December 5 she was at a women’s refuge to get away from him.
The prosecutor said a thud could be heard when the cat hit the wall or floorBrandon Mathews sent the disturbing video to his girlfriend using Facebook Messenger. Picture: Facebook
“She had tried to get her cat back and had asked her dad to pick it up, but [Mathews] refused and he demanded she go and get the cat herself.”
Ms Farbrace told how Mathews then filmed the attack on the animal and then used his ex-girlfriend’s own Facebook account to share the video with her.
“You can clearly hear the thud of the cat hitting the wall or the floor,” she added.
“She later got the cat with her father and the RSPCA said it was fine and there was no lasting injury to it.”
Mathews was arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and sending an offensive message.
He admitted both offences at the same court in September last year and on January 7 appeared for sentencing, where he also pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting.
The court was told he stole protein powder from Boots and food from M&S on December 6 last year, with the items totalling £60.
His solicitor, Lainey Snook, told the court Mathews was aware of how seriously his former partner had been impacted by the attack on her cat.
A smiling Brandon Mathews after the attack on the catBrandon Mathews was jailed for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and sending an offensive message. Picture: Facebook
“He didn’t cause any harm to [the cat] and he’s got remorse and shame today,” she added.
“He wants help and is now taking medication to help him with his ADHD and he may have other issues – autism and bipolar.
“He was not in the right frame of mind at the time; his father was ill and he subsequently died. He was only 44 years old and [Mathews] was coping with that by taking crack cocaine.
“As a child, he was witness to domestic violence and that can lead to a lack of empathy.
“He was misusing drugs and was not in a good place.”
The court heard Mathews has previous convictions but before the incident with the cat had not offended since 2018.
Magistrates told him his crimes passed the custody threshold and jailed him for 10 weeks for all the offences.
He was also ordered to pay compensation to Boots and M&S to the value of the items he stole.