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Teenagers who enticed a pet cat out from underneath a car before setting a dog on it have been sent death threats after their identities were revealed online.

The two boys - who cannot be named for legal reasons - have been subject to scores of violent threats on social media after appearing in court charged with causing the "disturbing" and "sinister" death of a cat .

One of the teenagers enticed the cat from under the parked car with a stick before the dog was set on the cat to catch it and kill it.

The body of 12-year-old cat Sully was found in bushes after one of the boys threw his remains over a wall.

On Wednesday, CCTV footage was released which showed the "disturbing and deeply sinister attack".

The boys responsible, aged 15 and 17, appeared in court on Tuesday after admitting causing the death of the cat in Gwaelodygrath Lane in Methyr Tydfil in May.

They were each given a 12-month referral order to the youth offending team and disqualified from keeping any animal for 10 years.

But their names have since been shared online, prompting thousands of violent comments.

Posting on one of the teenager's social media profiles, one person said: "Try and hide yourselves boys, we are coming for you. You can’t run far enough."

Another said: "Dirty little low life animal murderer. Hope someone gets revenge on you for this act of total disregard for life. I hope this follows you and lives with you for all your life, and I only hope it's as short lived as the cats life."

The boys' addresses have also been shared on social media.

South Wales Police said they were unable to comment on individual cases.

A force spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases but wherever there are concerns for an individual’s safety, South Wales Police will work closely with partners to ensure that any appropriate safeguarding measures are put in place.

"Any offences would also be investigated."

Speaking after the court case, Sully's owners said they had been looking for the missing pet for two days when they checked CCTV and saw footage of the cat's death at the hands of two teenagers.

The family, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I'm crying my eyes out watching all this. I'm just shouting run - run for your life. I'm just crying uncontrollably."

You can read the full interview here.

The two teenagers who were sentenced in court after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to the cat are the two persons shown at the start of the CCTV video.