Since 2015 the M25 cat killer, also known as the Croydon cat killer, has mutilated over 250 animals across the UK.
An animal rescue charity has warned that a nationwide cat killer has now struck in Tameside.
The South Norwood Animal Rescue Liberty (SNARL) specialises in rescuing abandoned animals in south London and has previously spoken out about after over 250 animals were mutilated across the UK.
And SNARL now believe that Dukinfield in Manchester is the latest area to have been targeted after two cats were recently found dead in the area.
Both animals had been severely mutilated with their heads and tails chopped off.
SNARL is concerned that the killer is keeping body parts as trophies and is even planting the head and tails in other areas so that more members of the public find the remains.
Greater Manchester Police refused to be drawn on the specifics of the latest incidents in Tameside but an RSPCA spokesperson confirmed that they are in contact with officers.
A statement read: “The RSPCA takes all calls about animal welfare very seriously and there is a dedicated team continuing to work closely with the police and looking into all evidence given to us surrounding cat deaths to see if there is deliberate cruelty involved.
“Every case is being looked at individually. Some are found to have definite links to the other deaths, but some of the cases we are called about turn out to be unconnected.”
As well as killing cats, it is believed that the suspect is also targeting foxes, rabbits and even swans.
SNARL spokesman Tony Jenkins is desperate to catch the cat killer and is urging the public to be vigilant and contact the police.
He said: “It is very traumatising I have to say, but at the same time I have got used to it. We support animal rights so it is quite harrowing that we have to do this.
“It is horrible seeing a poor mutated cats body but sometimes it is even more horrible breaking the news to the owners. Most of the owners have children. For example, a six-year-old girl, who absolutely loved her cat, she used to dress him up and she grew up with the cat.
“How can you tell a little girl that some f**er has cut the head off her cat?”
Jenkins claimed that the killer has begun severing the poor animals’ heads and tails because they want to cause more emotional damage to those who find them.
He added: “We are thinking that he is actually looking for more of a public impact because if someone finds the carcass and someone else finds the head, he has shocked two people.”
“They are generally found close to where the cat lives, the classic presentation is under the cat’s window.
“You’d wake up in the morning, open the curtains and see your cat with no head.
“We’ve also found some at flats, where the killer doesn’t know where the cat has came from so he would display it next to little children’s playgrounds and schools.
“They are always put on display, either for the public or the owners.”
SNARL haven’t been able to find much evidence to track down the cat ripper since he is able to avoid CCTV.
No-one has come forward with information regarding who it is and the police still do not know whether the killer is a man or a woman.
Jenkins went on to explain that he is now giving forensic evidence to the police and RSPCA to confirm that it is not foxes that are killing the animals.
He said: “Some people are happy to accept that it is foxes but I really don’t think that.
“If the fox is doing the cat then who’s doing it to the foxes?
“We’ve recently had two swans, one was in Dartford and its head and neck cut off and his tail feathers. Sadly the body was deposed of in a mix up but we’ve recently had one in reading that sounds similar.”
As well as informing the police and RSPCA, SNARL have also been working closely with other animal welfare groups such as PETA UK, who are equally horrified by the crimes.
Someone out there must know something. Please if you have any suspicions, anyone acting oddly around cats, please please contact SNARL https://t.co/6tM5GxHFUn
— Maggie Towner (@MagsTWells) March 6, 2017
Elisa Allen, PETA UK director, said: “Despite a £5,000 reward offered by PETA and public pleas by Martin Clunes and other celebrities, there still appear to be no strong leads in the case of the “Cat Ripper.
“Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, who invariably go on to harm human beings, the police department must use all measures available to them, including re-examining CCTV footage, to apprehend this disturbed individual.
“History shows that past incidents involving cruelty to animals appear regularly in the records of serial rapists and murderers.
“Serial murderers Ian Huntley, Thomas Hamilton (the Dunblane massacre), Fred West, Dennis Nilsen, Ian Brady and Raoul Moat all started out by deliberately harming animals.
“Until this person is caught, no one is safe.”
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