A dog-owner whose two patterdale terriers killed a neighbour’s pet cat has been ordered by Douglas magistrates to pay compensation.

Eamonn Smith, of Lheahhagh Park in Anagh Coar, was exercising his dogs last thing at night when the attack happened at around 12.30am near the Anagh Coar shops.

He admitted his dogs were ’at large’.

A statement from the cat’s owner said the dogs pulled the cat down from a window ledge and shook it.

The defendant, who is 43, grabbed his dogs and the owner had to prise her cat from the dogs’ jaws.

It was treated by the vet, incurring bills of £345, but despite this, died later.

Smith told police the dogs had been on a lead but had pulled free.

The court was told there had been no previous problems with Smith’s dogs.

Smith said he had not been back to see the cat’s owner because he was unable to find the house as it had been very dark.

Magistrates’ chairman Lisa Horton fined him £300 in total with £50 costs and he was also ordered to pay compensation of £345.