The case against a man accused of animal cruelty offences after around 20 cats were found dead on an Islington estate has been dropped.

David Avhanvhondo, of Kings Square, Islington, was charged with carrying out a prohibited procedure and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The case arose after members of the public spotted a number of dead cats in public spaces at the Pleydell Estate between September 2022 and February 2023.

Plain clothes officers were subsequently deployed to the area to carry out overnight patrols. 

Mr Avhanvhondo was later arrested and charged with carrying out a prohibited procedure and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He had previously entered not guilty pleas to both offences at Highbury Magistrates’ Court.

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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the case against him, which was heard on Friday (March 10) at the same court, was discontinued because it no longer met its legal test.

A CPS spokesman said: “Prosecutors must keep cases under continual review to ensure our legal test is met.

“After receiving further evidence, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we discontinued the case.”