A Fordham man has been banned for life from keeping animals after carrying out repeated acts of cruelty that led to the death of his Ragdoll kitten, Whisper.
Ben Murkin, 24, of Mill Lane, Fordham, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on March 6, where he was handed a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work alongside 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
He must also pay £500 in court costs and a £187 victim surcharge.
The court heard that Whisper suffered a catalogue of severe injuries, including head bruising, a left eye haemorrhage, multiple rib fractures, tail reddening, and a fractured lumbar vertebra—all consistent with deliberate trauma. Murkin had claimed the injuries occurred during inappropriate CPR, but experts concluded they were the result of intentional abuse.
The RSPCA investigated after Whisper’s death in March 2024. Despite repeated advice from vets in December 2023 and February 2024 to return the kitten for treatment, Murkin ignored warnings, leaving Whisper to suffer prolonged pain.
Judge at the hearing described Murkin’s actions as “astonishing cruelty” and noted the severity and repeated nature of the injuries. Specific acts included kicking Whisper, throwing her against a wall and a door, picking her up by the tail, and dropping her down stairs.
RSPCA Inspector Emily Astillberry said: “The actions in this case were of astonishing cruelty to a defenceless animal. It is heartbreaking to hear what Whisper had to endure in her short life.”
Murkin pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Whisper under Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including failing to provide prompt veterinary treatment for injuries sustained by the kitten. In mitigation, the court heard he had expressed genuine remorse for his actions.
The lifetime ban on keeping animals ensures Murkin will never again be in a position to harm a pet.
