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CAT CRUELTY MAN IS ORDERED TO PAY RSPCA 29,500

BY PETER SQUIRES Leicester Mercury, 04 March 2008
A pet owner charged with cruelty to cats has been ordered to pay the RSPCA nearly 30,000 in a milestone court case. Victor Matevos (59) kept more than 30 cats at his home in Milton Crescent, Beaumont Leys, Leicester - until they were seized from the property by animal welfare officers after a vet said they were suffering. Magistrates have now granted the RSPCA permission to re-home animals seized from his house in July and September last year. Matevos has been banned for life from keeping animals and will appear in court to face six cruelty charges tomorrow. Kevin McCole, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the application to re-home the cats and the costs was only the second to be made in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Finding the case proven, the magistrates ordered Mr Matevos to pay full costs. These are 23,632.26 for boarding the cats, 5,894.94 veterinary expenses and 750 towards legal costs - a total 29,534.70. Mr Matevos, who gave no plea, was removed from court on Friday after abusing the magistrates, legal adviser and prosecutor. He claimed he had not been allowed to see prosecution statements and other evidence, had been denied diabetes medication for two days and called the hearing "a shambles and a charade." His request for the hearing to be adjourned was turned down and he was remanded in custody. The magistrates decided not to treat his outbursts as contempt of court. Mr McCole told the court Pc Jayne Dolby was called to Mr Matevos's home on June 12, because neighbours were worried about the cats. RSPCA officer Sally Kearns took two cats which seemed to be suffering and distressed. Three days later the cats were examined by a vet and a warrant was issued to rescue other animals from the house. He said: "The vet, Julian Bowen, felt the cats were suffering and, because of their environment, were likely to suffer." Police and RSPCA officers visited the house on July 5 and September 27, capturing 33 cats. Since then, 11 kittens had been born from them. Mr Bowen said that a kitten suffering from bronchial pneumonia had to be put down. Another cat died and a third had escaped. He said the whole colony was suffering from cat flu and fleas. One cat had an untreated infected neck wound and another had an abnormally small eye. The court heard the house and garden was littered with debris, including cat food tins, and stank of cat urine and faeces. Ms Kearns said the situation seemed to deteriorate after each visit and, during the first search, she had found a decaying, maggot-ridden body of a cat in one of the rooms. The only access to water for the animals was a dripping kitchen tap. After the hearing, she said: "I am delighted that the court has seen fit to grant the RSPCA permanent custody of the animals and we can now look at finding them homes where they can lead happy and contented lives."