A ‘VIOLENT and cruel drunk’ is being investigated for kicking a rabbit to death the day before he was sent to prison for killing a cat.

Three young children have been left heartbroken by the loss of their pet bunny Edward.

Jason Metcalfe was jailed for 46 weeks yesterday after he admitted repeatedly smashing a cat against a brick wall.

He grabbed 14-year-old moggie Bonnie by her back legs and swung her against the wall at least four times over 10 minutes, just because she was said to have rubbed against him, Burnley Crown Court was told.

After he was sentenced, police said an investigation was under way into reports that a man had attacked a rabbit on Thursday night.

Officers said the animal suffered a seizure and died.

The rabbit belonged to Kim Gouldsbrough, 26, and has left her three children Tamsine, nine, Cordelia, four and Joshua, two, distraught.

Ms Gouldsbrough, who runs a rabbit rescue sanctuary at her home in Green End Avenue, Earby, said the animal, a two-and-a-half-year-old British Giant rabbit called Edward, had escaped from her garden and wandered into nearby Goodall Close.

Kim said two girls claimed to have seen a man kicking the rabbit in the head at around 11.30pm on Thursday.

She said: “He wasn’t like a typical pet rabbit. He didn’t live in a cage, we let him wander down the street and kids would dress him up and push him around in a pram.

“Edward was a pet for the whole community. It’s so sad.”

“Tamsine is absolutely heartbroken and has had to have the morning off school.

Police will now consult with the RSPCA before deciding what action to take.

Metcalfe had arrived at court to be sentenced with his face plastered up.

It was revealed he had been attacked by a dog which had bitten off part of his nose.

The defendant, of Kenilworth Drive, Earby, had earlier admitted failing to meet the needs of the cat by not protecting her from the pain she suffered.

He was also in breach of a suspended sentence for a sustained attack on a friend.

Metcalfe, who was banned from owning or keeping animals for life, had been committed for sentence by Reedley Magistrates.