AN Andover woman has been devastated by the actions of two young children who allegedly stoned her cat to death – and left it lying 25 yards from her home.

Linda Andrews who lives in The Crescent was at a funeral on Wednesday afternoon when the incident happened.

She’d left Bozar, her 10-year-old pedigree Birman Seal Point cat asleep on the garden shed.

“That was his favourite place to be. He lay there every day and was relaxed, happy and safe,” said Linda, who works at St Ives printers. “I came back from the funeral and my neighbour said something awful had happened and Bozar was dead. I thought he’d been in an accident and to be honest that would be far easier to deal with than this.

“Bozar had a beautiful temperament and was such a caring cat. He would willingly go with someone because he loved attention and being stroked. Our whole family is devastated by what’s happened.”

“What makes children turn into vicious, uncaring little monsters? How can they not realise that animals are not targets or punchbags and that they feel pain the same as us. “I feel helpless because I can’t do anything. What I feel like doing I can’t say, but I just hope that those responsible don’t get away with it.”

Police are investigating the incident and say they are treating it very seriously.

“This was an appalling act of cruelty which has been deeply upsetting for Ms Andrews and her family. We will do our utmost to ensure this incident is dealt with as quickly as possible,” said Sgt Kevin McCarthy from Andover CID.