Trigger warning - please be warned the CCTV footage is of a distressing nature

A MAN has been caught on camera savagely killing a beloved family cat in a school car park in Cheltenham. 

Tomasz Zimny, aged 40, of St Pauls Road attacked 12-year-old feline Millie - swinging her over his shoulder and slamming her onto the floor at Cleeve School's sports car park. 

He returned moments later to kick the cat once more before he drove away.

Millie dragged herself under some nearby pallets where she died on March 17 last year.

Zimny was handed a lifetime ban on keeping cats and given an 18 week suspended prison sentence at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on May 5. 

Gazette Series: Shocking footage released by the RSPCA shows Zimny attacking beloved 12-year-old family cat Millie in a school car park Shocking footage released by the RSPCA shows Zimny attacking beloved 12-year-old family cat Millie in a school car park (Image: RSPCA)

RSPCA inspector Richard Carr said: "The footage shows how he is almost between the pallets when he catches her, and from behind he grabs either a rear leg or tail and swings her up over his shoulder, before swinging her back down with great force and slamming her onto the floor.

"It is clear she is injured and unable to move but is still alive. He takes some steps away - but comes back and then appears to kick her whilst she would already be in pain.

"She can be seen to move a few more times but then is motionless for a few seconds before dragging herself under the pallets.''

The incident took place in the Cleeve School sports complex car park, where Zimny had gone to collect his then girlfriend.

He had let their two dogs out of the car - who chased Millie and were followed by Zimny, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The incident had been partly seen by a witness who went over to check on the cat and could see her lying half out from underneath the pallets and machinery.

She was still and did not move when he touched her, so he rushed her to a vet.

Millie's family were traced through her microchip and were informed the next day of her death.

It was believed at the time to have been as a result of a dog attack.

However, the school's headteacher viewed the CCTV covering the car park and passed the footage of Zimny's actions onto the police and RSPCA.

Millie's body was exhumed for a post mortem which found a number of traumatic injuries including rib fractures, a collapsed lung, partial dislocation of three spinal joints and bleeding in the lung.

Solicitor Lindi Meyer, who prosecuted for the RSPCA, said: "Millie did not die immediately but was then kicked by Zimny and then dragged herself under the palates where she died from her extensive injuries soon after his actions were premeditated and in angry revenge."

Zimney claimed he had been bitten by Millie and said because his dogs were barking at her he thought the cat was attacking them.

He was sentenced to a lifetime of cat disqualification, an 18 week suspended prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and 150 hours of community service.