A Melbourne teenager who killed a beloved family cat by hanging it from a bridge has been sentenced to four months in youth detention.
In sentencing the boy, a children's court magistrate described the killing of the elderly pet as one of the most shocking cases he had seen.
Alice the cat was much loved by her 72-year-old owner Edwin Townsend and held a special place in the hearts of his wife and grandchildren.
But in April 2008 she was snatched from the front yard of a home in the outer Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn by two 15-year-old boys.
Alice, aged about 20, was taken to a nearby bridge where one of the boys tied a rope around her neck.
They held onto the rope before throwing the cat from the bridge, choking it to death then leaving it hanging.
The magistrate said the killing of the "defenceless family pet" was one of the most shocking cases he had heard in 20 years on the bench.
"I was outraged, mortified and sickened," he said.
The magistrate said despite a report stating the youth should not be detained, he owed it to the community to place the teenager in a youth justice centre.
"This court is entitled to reflect community concern, its outrage," he said. "It is my view that a youth justice centre is appropriate."
The youth was ordered to spend four months in a centre.
The magistrate did not jail the second youth, saying he was genuinely remorseful for the killing.
The boy's lawyer told the court his client cried when he recounted the incident to a person preparing a sentencing report.
The magistrate said the boy should be ashamed of his actions and placed him on six months probation.
Outside court, Mr Townsend said Alice was much loved by his family, especially his wife and grandchildren.
"The reaction locally was almost like a human being was killed, friends and neighbours felt very strongly about what was done," he said.
"You have got to consider that the cat was with us for over 20 years. It had a rope around its neck, it is hard."