ANIMAL CRUELTY: Man accused of placing tortured animals dead bodies in south of Spain

POLICE in Velez-Malaga have arrested a 46-year-old man accused of torturing and killing two small animals before leaving their bodies in prominent public spaces for locals to find.

The alleged crimes came to light on Tuesday morning when a dead cat, showing signs of torture, was found hoisted up a flag pole in the middle of the town.

Later that day, concerned residents reportedly found a second body, that of a skinned rabbit, alongside a note signed ‘El Imbecil,’ (the imbecile).

The letter read: “Dear lady: Yesterday it was a cat, today it is a rabbit that was run over by a national imbecile. Do not call me: I do not want to hurt your sensibility and there are more people floating in the Mediterranean than ‘your rabbit’.”

Police said the note also included a full name, leading them to arrest a man with the initials O.C.M. and originally from Barcelona, on the Velez-Malaga’s main street, Avenida Vivar Tellez.

Police allege when they found the man he was carrying a backpack containing adhesive tape similar to that used to tie the dead animals to flag poles and lamp posts, as well a notebook containing writing similar to that found on the notes next to the animals’ bodies.

Officers said they have confiscated the materials as part of their investigation.