The pet could be seen landing on a tarmac drive before limping away

The incident came to light when footage was discovered on a schoolboy's phone, Birmingham magistrates were told.

The cat was thrown off a 50ft balcony in Druids Heath at least four times.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Lees, a 17-year-old boy, and two girls, aged 16 and 14, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court.

Limped away

Video clips of the incident were played to the court in which Lees could he heard saying: "That just thudded off the floor - that cat's definitely got a few broken bones."

He then added: "The cat's going off the balcony. Bye, bye catty."

In the second clip - which revealed that a second phone was being used to record the events - Lees could be heard telling a girl seen dropping the cat: "Go on then."

The ginger-and-white cat was filmed landing on a tarmac drive before limping away.

Could be jailed

Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court that the 20-minute incident, which happened last October, beggared belief.

Lees, the 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl admitted cruelly ill-treating the pet. The 14-year-old pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the cruelty.

Magistrates remitted the three juvenile defendants to Birmingham Youth Court to be dealt with next Tuesday.

Lees, who was warned that he could face a jail sentence, will be sentenced on 14 July.