A man who hurt his two kittens but lied to vets about the origin of the injuries has been handed a suspended sentence and banned from keeping, owning, or caring for animals for 10 years.

Jamil Khan, 29, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens, a grey and white one called Obi and a black and white one called Amidala, between April 1 and July 4 last year.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Khan took Obi to Stanley House vets where he advised the kitten had been injured by a dog.

An examination revealed Obi had suffered fractures to his jaw and skull.

Two days later, on July 3, Khan phoned the vets again and said Obi was shallow breathing but still alive.

He attended within a few minutes and said the kitten had been involved in a road accident which caused his death.

The vet considered the accounts presented by Khan to be inconsistent with the injuries Obi suffered and when asked again how it happened, Khan replied ‘I just can’t tell you’, which he repeated three times.

As a result, the matter was referred to the police, and on the same day Khan was arrested and interviewed, where he provided no comment answers to all questions.

A search of his property found another kitten, Amidala, which was handed over to the RSPCA.

She was taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where it was found she had at least one fractured rib.

A post-mortem examination on Obi at the University of Liverpool found multiple fractures across his body and blood in his stomach, which shows he was alive when being subjected to the physical violence.

Joanne Daniels, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said both animals had been subjected to blunt force trauma on multiple occasions, while Obi suffered from high energy blunt force trauma and was alive at the time.

Mitigating, Rhianydd Clement said Khan had spoken about being stressed at the time of the abuse, and he panicked when speaking to the vet and realised the gravity of the situation he was in, which is why he did not tell the truth.

She added Khan had taken full responsibility for his offending and he is extremely remorseful.

Khan, of Mason Street, Colne, had been studying a psychology degree at Burnley College and finished the first year last year, but has not returned due to the timing of the offending.

Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “Over the course of three months you mistreated both of those cats.

“The vet pressed you on how Obi died and the police were called. You were arrested on July 3 and interviewed but provided no comment and the police searched your house.

"They found a second kitten and it was medically examined and found to have at least one rib fracture.

“Those kittens were subjected to blunt force trauma and on both occasions suffered pain from your abuse. You failed to meet their needs.

“Your behaviour was clearly violent and must have been regular. You continued until one lost its life.”

Khan was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a £200 fine at £30 per week, for which he will go to jail for seven days if not paid.

Finally, he was disqualified from keeping, owning, or caring for animals for 10 years.