Cat dumper: 'I cannot explain why I did this'

A still from the security footage showing Mary Bale, inset, throwing cat Lola into a wheelie bin.

The woman who earned the wrath of a nation after she was caught on camera dumping a neighbourhood cat in a wheelie bin has apologised for her actions.

In a statement released to British media, Mary Bale, a 45-year-old bank worker from the English town of Coventry, said: "I want to take this opportunity to apologise profusely for the upset and distress that my actions have caused.

"I cannot explain why I did this, it is completely out of character and I certainly did not intend to cause any distress to Lola or her owners.

"It was a split second of misjudgement that has got completely out of control.

"I am due to meet with the RSPCA and police to discuss this matter further and will co-operate fully with their investigations.

"I wish to reiterate that I am profoundly sorry for my actions and wish to resolve this matter to everyone's satisfaction as soon as possible."

Ms Bale was captured on CCTV on Saturday night stroking tabby Lola before looking around her to check no one was watching, dumping the cat in the bin, shutting the lid and calmly walking away.

Lola's owners Darryl Mann and Stephanie Andrews-Mann posted the footage online in a bid to catch the culprit and it went viral.

Ms Bale was soon identified and police guarded her house after she received death threats.

A Facebook group called "Death to Mary Bale" was removed by administrators yesterday as it contravened the site's terms of use, reported BBC News.

Meanwhile, The Sun website has created a game for people to get their own back on Ms Bale in a legal way. Whack-cat-woman features Ms Bale's head popping out of green wheelie bins. Clicking the mouse on her head slams the lid down.