Shane Creighton, aged 22, from Mountbatten House, in Admirals Way, Daventry, appeared before magistrates on Tuesday charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the kitten.

He had already pleaded guilty to attacking the kitten last month.

Appearing at Daventry Magistrates' Court for sentencing, the court heard Creighton flew into a rage on May 12, this year.

Eyewitnesses described seeing Creighton hanging out of the window of his second floor flat with his hands around the young cat's neck.

Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Kevin McColl told the court Creighton was "shaking the kitten from side to side".

He said Creighton then threw the animal with "ultimate force" towards a wall inside the flat.

Creighton, who admitted he had anger issues, was then heard asking people at the block of flats if anyone wanted a cat "because I am going to kill my kitten".

When police and RSPCA officers arrived at Creighton's home to rescue the animal, they found he had deep scratches on his arms and was bleeding.

Magistrates were told Creighton then flew into another rage as the kitten was taken away, kicking his cooker and punching a fence until his knuckles bled.

When told he faced a prison sentence, Creighton said: "I have realised what I did was wrong and I will take whatever punishment I am given."

He then told magistrates he had tried to deal with his anger problems after finding out he was the father of two children shortly after the incident. The presiding magistrate, Alistair Egglestone, told him he had caused "considerable harm" to the kitten, which is now waiting to be rehomed.

Creighton was then given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He will remain under a community order for 24 weeks and was ordered to pay £200 in court costs.

He was also ordered to take anger management classes and was told he could not own an animal for five years. Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton said she welcomed the verdict. She said: "This cat was put through a terrifying and painful ordeal.

"No animal should have to be in fear ofbeing attacked, especially not in its own home.

"We hope that the sentence will serve to prevent future animals from suffering."

RSPCA staff, who have called the cat Walnut, said the kitten has now made a full recovery.