AN OKEHAMPTON family were this week appalled by the macabre discovery that their beloved cat's dead body had been hung from a tree in a neighbour's garden. The Bailey family, who live in Station Road, became concerned for the whereabouts of their cat, Molly, last week, but on Sunday they were horrified to learn of the pet's fate. The black and white cat was found hanging from a tree in a rear garden of a nearby address. A wire was wrapped around its neck and then around a tree branch. Buut an investigation by an RSPCA officer found no signs of strangulation, no stretch marks around the cat's neck or ligament damage. It appears the cat may have died in a road accident and someone having found the dead body decided to create the impression the cat had been hung from a tree. The RSPCA say they are puzzled why anyone would go to such nauseating lengths to cause needless distress. Molly had belonged to 16-year-old Neil Bailey for around 15 months and the boy was devastated by the cruel charade. Neil's mother Jane said: 'It just make you wonder about the mentality of someone that can do that. It is so sickening.' Jane said Molly was an adventurous cat. 'She goes over the back garden to get to the park regularly, and she was found further down the path in a neighbour's garden. We don't know if it was directed against Neil, or whether, because it was in someone else's garden, whether they have a vendetta against someone else.' The cat was last seen alive on the morning of Thursday, January 11. When following a search, Molly was still not found, the family put up posters in the surrounding area asking if anyone had seen their cat. It was a neighbour who made the gruesome discovery at around 10am last Sunday and had to come round and tell the family about the cat's death. Jane said Molly had been a calming influence on her teenage son. 'He lived for that cat,' she said. 'The cat would go to bed when Neil went to bed, she would get up and go out in the night, but she would be back again in the morning when Neil woke up.' An RSPCA spokesperson said the organisation was continuing its investigations and a prosecution could follow if the culprit was identified. The spokesperson added: 'This is a shocking incident and it must be very disturbing for the family, our deepest sympathies go out to them. Anyone with any information can contact our 24-hour cruelty line on 0870 5555999 and all calls will be treated in confidence.' Police are also investigating the crime. PCSO Joe Raeburn would like to hear from any person with knowledge or information regarding the incident. He can be contacted on 08452 777444. The crime reference number is JO/07/42. RIGHT: Neil Bailey and his sister, Connie Jayne, with the poster that sought help in finding Molly.
