Two teenagers have been sentenced after luring a cat from under a car so they could let their dog maul him to death.

The 13-year-old Bengal cat, named Sully, had belonged to a nearby family in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil, the RSPCA said.

Shocking footage shows that after being savaged, he was slung into bushes by one of the boys.

The animal charity described the attack as "disturbing, harrowing and deeply sinister".

Sully's "heartbroken" owners only learnt of the attack several days after his disappearance when they grew concerned and checked their cameras.

They were confronted with images of the beloved cat being jabbed from beneath the car by one boy with a stick.

Nearby, his accomplice held his dog back by the collar, releasing it the second Sully darted out from beneath the vehicle.

The cat was quickly caught by the dog and mauled to death.

Police tracked down the boys responsible, aged 17 and 15, and they were sentenced at Merthyr Youth Court on Tuesday after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to a cat, the RSPCA said.

The teens, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received a 12-month referral order to the youth offending team, were banned from owning a pet for 10 years and were ordered to pay £300 in cost each, the charity added.

Sully's owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "We are absolutely heartbroken. Sully was so happy, and was a member of our family.

"His killing by these cruel people brings shame to Merthyr Tydfil. This was a heinous act."

Sully was popular in the local area, where he was often tended to by passersby.

RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said: "This was a disturbing, harrowing and deeply sinister attack which would have caused immense suffering to poor Sully.

"It is frightening to think two children would set out to do something so deliberately cruel. It appears the dog had been trained to kill like this.

"The actions of these individuals has left a family broken and without their beloved pet cat and family member of 13 years."

The dog was taken into the RSPCA's care and will be re-homed.