Animal charity Cats Protection, which was founded in Haslemere, has called for stricter regulation of air guns following the sentence handed down to a man who caused the death of a family pet and maimed six others.

A charity spokesman dubbed Franky Mills’ actions “evil and callous” and hoped his two-year sentence would act as a deterrent.

The 19 year old from Farncombe pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal damage and seven counts of possession of a firearm and was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, last Friday.

He will serve 12 months in a youth detention institution and 12 months on licence. Mills was also fined £100 and his air rifles and ammunition were confiscated. An order was made preventing him buying more for five years.

Cats Protection’s Jacqui Cuff said: “We welcome the sentence given to Franky Mills. His evil and callous actions resulted in the death of one cat and caused horrendous pain and suffering to many others, not to mention the trauma caused to their owners, their families and the wider community.

“We are pleased the judge gave a significant custodial sentence and hope it acts as a deterrent to anyone else who would commit acts of cruelty to cats.”

Franky shot beloved family pet Bomber in the neck last March, and attacked six more in a week-long spree in Guildford and Cranleigh.

One, Ruby, had to be put down, another needed his leg amputated, and two had eyes removed.

Cats Protection recorded some 200 shooting incidents last year – 22 per cent of which were fatal, and say the rising numbers could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Ms Cuff said: “The sheer volume of instances where cats are injured and killed by air gun attacks is very concerning. Our survey of vets showed many more cats are killed in air gun attacks than 20 years ago. We are calling for much stricter regulation on the purchase, possession and use of air guns as we strongly believe this will help to protect cats and other animals from shocking attacks.”

The charity wants England to be like Scotland where it is illegal to own one without a licence.