Police seeking cruel yobs who filmed themselves harming animals

The shocking footage shows the teenage thugs carrying the distressed animal on a pedestrian bridge in St John's, Worcester.

One of the teens then throws the screeching cat over the barrier while his pals can be heard cackling in the background.

West Mercia Police are hunting the teens after the video was widely shared on social media on Sunday (10/11).

Worcester city councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John's, says it is not the first time cats have been thrown from the bridge on Meco Alley.

He said: "A number of people shared their suspicions that there were some people throwing cats over a bridge.

"On Sunday morning, someone called me and said they had a video of some people throwing a cat into the Laugherne Brook.

The video was very graphic and horrible to watch and there's no indication as to whether the cat survived."

West Mercia Police have asked people not to share the video further so it does not affect any potential criminal proceedings.

Cllr Udall added: "I hope these individuals are found and brought to justice as it makes me sick to the core.

"They are not representative of St John's and the majority are quite rightly angry and upset about this.

"It is damaging to the reputation of St John's and it is damaging to the people who have witnessed this."

Cllr Udall explained that this was not the first incident of animal abuse in Meco Alley that had been reported to him.

He added: "I urge anyone who knows anything about this to report it to the police and if you want to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers."

RSPCA received 227 reports of cats being abandoned, poisoned, mutilated, shot, beaten or neglected in Worcestershire and Herefordshire in 2021.

The nearby town of Malvern was also hit by a string of cat poisonings earlier this year.

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after a cat was hurled off a bridge.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

"He has since been released on police bail."