Martin Clunes branded the Croydon cat killer a ‘sick individual’ in a letter urging police to catch the ‘dangerous criminal’ this morning.
The 54-year-old actor from Wimbledon wrote to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) after reading about the attacks.
A spate of vicious attacks has seen dozens of cats killed in the borough over the last two years.
Mr Clunes, who went to school in Croydon, said: “Like countless others, I am shocked that at least 35 cats are thought to have been massacred around the borough of Croydon.
“As someone who knows the area well and shares a home with many four-legged companions, I read with horror that some of the cats had been decapitated and dismembered – this is the stuff of nightmares.
“The local community is understandably distraught and frightened. No one feels safe while this sick individual is on the loose.”
Association of Lawyers for Animal Welfare barrister Christina Warner told SW Londoner that the so-called ‘Cat Ripper of Croydon’ could attack vulnerable humans next.
She warned that the danger would be even greater if the perpetrator was caught while he/she was committing these brutal acts.
The Doc Martin star said: “Experts agree that it is the severity of the behaviour – not the species of the victim – that matters.”
“Acts of cruelty to animals are not mere indications of a minor personality flaw – they are symptomatic of a deep mental disturbance.”
Mr Clunes urges the police to catch the killer as soon as possible.
He said: “I implore you to take every measure necessary, including re-examining all available CCTV footage, to apprehend this dangerous criminal. The safety of the entire community depends on it.”
PETA has offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Image courtesy of The Jonathan Ross Show, via YouTube with thanks
