A postman who killed a cat by repeatedly smashing her in the face with the lid of his mail trolley was jailed for six months. Alan Vincent, 38, violently smashed the lid downing on the 'meowing and screeching' cat after she jumped in his trolley as he did his rounds in Windsor, Berkshire. Witnessing the brutal attack, neighbours confronted Vincent, a postman for nine years, but he hurled the dying pet over a garden hedge before telling them to 'F*** off'. The 14-year-old tortoise shell tabby, Tiddy, was found by her owner, Ami Hartridge, 34, and rushed to the vets. But she had suffered 'horrific internal injuries' and died hours later. Vincent was jailed for six months yesterday after being found guilty of causing unnecessary animal suffering on the morning of March 11 last year. Reading Magistrates Court heard Laura Lucardini, 72, a neighbour of Ms Hartridge, describe seeing Tiddy’s head and chest sticking out of the postman’s box. Miss Lucardini said: 'I saw the postman bashing the lid down and realised he was smashing it on to the cat who was meowing loudly, screeching.' She then saw Vincent take the cat from his mail trolley and throw it over the hedge. Another witness, June Dye-Hodge Beardsley, ran out and confronted the postman before dialling 999. The emergency services recording was played to the court, in which Vincent’s voice was clearly heard swearing at both women. Robert Borwick, prosecuting, said Miss Lucardini went and found Mrs Hartridge and told her a cat like hers had been hurt by a postman. Mr Borwick said: 'A distressed Ms Hartridge hurried home and found one of her cats was missing. 'She was searching the street when a van arrived with Paul McCarthy who was Vincent’s delivery manager. 'He had received a report about the attack and asked if she was looking for a cat.' The pair found Tiddy behind the hedge and she was rushed to Alma Veterinary Hospital but died from her injuries. Vincent told the court he found the cat in his box but did not smash the lid down on her. He said: 'I tried to lift it out, but it clung on to the inside.' He added that he finally shooed her off and she was unhurt. Finding Vincent guilty, chairman of magistrates Ian Bacon told him: 'We don’t believe your version of events. 'Tiddy died in a great deal of suffering and pain - a horrible death. 'You have offered no remorse whatsoever, none.' The court heard Vincent, from Feltham, Middlesex, was sacked after the incident and the case also caused the end of his relationship with his partner. Speaking after the verdict, Ms Hartridge’s partner, Stephen Hughes, 50, said: 'Justice has been done, but it won’t bring Tiddy back. 'Tallulah loved Tiddy and used to sit on the sofa with her, she was absolutely devastated when she found out she had died. 'What this man did to our cat was cruel and disgusting, I hope he has time to think about what he did as he sits in his prison cell.'