Man charged with animal cruelty offences after at least 20 dead cats found in London neighbourhood

POLICE probing the deaths of dozens of cats have charged a man with animal cruelty offences.

David Avhanvhondo, 56, was stopped and arrested by undercover officers on patrol at 4am on Sunday.

Cops are believed to have identified at least 20 dead pets in the neighbourhood since last September.

It is understood multiple bodies were discovered in a park by a council worker.

Residents claimed CCTV cameras were set up as part of a five-month investigation by the Metropolitan Police on an estate in Islington, North London.

Officers were yesterday standing guard at a flat while a forensic tent was set up outside.

Avhanvhondo has been charged with carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He denied both offences on Monday at Highbury magistrates’ court, where he will appear again on February 28.

The South London Animal Investigation Network, which tracks cat mutilations, last night said its hunt continues for the so-called “Croydon Cat Killer”.

A spokesman said: “As welcome as this arrest is, we do not currently believe this is the ­individual responsible for the incidents in South London and the rest of the South East.

"We await further information.”

In 2018, the Met separately ruled more than 400 mutilations were caused by vehicles or foxes.