Dad spends £10,000 on private detectives in bid to find killer of his daughter's kitten
A LOVING father spent £10,000 on private detectives in a bid to hunt the vicious thug who shot dead his daughter's pet kitten.
The police were totally impotent to do anything to help us. Using an air rifle to shoot cats is illegal and it should be treated as such
Neil Tregarthen, 55, claimed he turned detective to bring the culprit to justice because "impotent" police failed to investigate.
The retired businessman has spent the last six months trying to track down the yob that shot his daughter's 14-month-old cat at around midnight on September 27 last year in Exeter, Devon.
The killer used an air rifle to shoot the young black cat Farah, who later managed to crawl back to her home despite her agonising wounds.
The family from Truro in Cornwall spent £3,500 on emergency vets fees before Farah died from internal bleeding and septicaemia.
The horrific attack left Mr Tregarthen's daughter, Aylish, heartbroken.
The 24-year-old medical student, based in Exeter, said: "There is no deterrent to stop people doing it again.
"No one is being held to account and they are being allowed to continue doing this.
"I have other cats but I wont let them out of the house in case this happens again."
Mr Tregarthen said private detectives conducted a six-week investigation and identified a prime suspect, but police refused to bring a prosecution.
He claimed he was forced to do "80 per cent of the job" for officers.
He added: "I would never advocate vigilante style behaviour but it is clear that society is fed up to the back teeth with anti-social behaviour, bullying and downright thuggery that the police forces in this country now see either powerless or unmotivated to investigate and prosecute.
"I understand budget cuts and I understand the difficulties the police have doing their job."
Mr Tregarthen continued: "But when a job has been 80 per cent done for them, all I want them to do is exercise their right to knock on the suspect's front door and interview him under caution.
"I cannot confront him because it would prejudice the police inquiry.
"The police were totally impotent to do anything to help us. Using an air rifle to shoot cats is illegal and it should be treated as such.
"People who shoot and hurt animals will go onto hurt human beings if they get away it - that cannot be right."
To no avail the family have also offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to the identity of the gunman - and the family has compiled a 14-page dossier on their findings.
Mr Tregarthen added: "We cannot do anymore. No animal should suffer in such a way.
"It is mindless cruelty and bullying."
Responding to the criticisim, Devon and Cornwall Police said they "investigated the crime fully."
Neighbourhood beat manager Steve Parsons said: "I have examined Mr Tregarthen's report and it is packed with rumour and speculation, not evidence."
He added that "after all reasonable areas of enquiry were completed" he explained to Ms Tregarthen why no further action would be taken.
