9 May 2008

A man who killed his neighbours' pet cat after he accused it of bullying him has been arrested.

Dougal Thorn punched the cat called chopper and threw it into the River Adur in West Sussex after it knocked over a vase of flowers in his living room.

Mr Thorn described the animal, owned by his neighbour, radio presenter Sarah Booker, as a "menace" and accused it of "looking pleased" when the vase was broken.

Ms Booker and her partner Tom Walker spent a week searching for their beloved pet who was just two-years-old, before they reported their neighbour to the police.

Mr Thorn has admitted he "made a terrible mistake" in killing Chopper, adding "I have never done anything like that before, I absolutely regret doing it.

"I wish I could turn back time," he added.

Officers have charged Mr Thorn with criminal damage, and he remains on bail until next month.

Meanwhile friends and neighbours have placed floral tributes along the road where Chopper once lived.