Woman Pleads Guilty Over Cat Dumped In Bin

"A woman who was caught on CCTV dumping a cat in a wheelie bin has been fined £250 after she pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animal

The footage shows Mary Bale stroking Lola, a four-year-old tabby, before picking it up by the scruff of its neck and dropping it in the bin.

The 45-year-old then walked off and the animal was trapped for around 15 hours - but suffered no physical injury.

Bale became somewhat of a hate figure after the images emerged in August.

The filmed incident sparked outrage and made headlines around the world, with animal lovers on Facebook even calling for her death.

It also led to an investigation by the RSPCA, which interviewed Bale and sent a file on the case for review by its prosecutions department.

She admitted the charge of causing unnecessary suffering when she appeared at Coventry Magistrates Court.

A second charge of failing to provide the cat with a suitable environment, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, was dropped.

Bale, who appeared close to tears, was fined £250 and told to pay court costs of £1,171.

She was also banned from keeping or owning animals for the next five years.

The court heard Bale has resigned from her job as a bank worker as a result of the incident.

Bale said she asks herself why she acted as she did on a daily basis and cannot give an answer.

She added she has also been suffering from depression.

District judge Caroline Goulborn told Bale: "The media interest in this case has resulted in you being vilified in some quarters and I have taken that into account."

Bale had already issued a public apology for her actions, describing them as a split second of misjudgment.

"I cannot explain why I did this," her statement read.

"It is completely out of character and I certainly did not intend to cause any distress to Lola or her owners."

Woman Pleads Guilty Over Cat Dumped In BinPlay video