Three kittens, which were thrown into the Thames from Twickenham Bridge, have found new families after being rescued by bystanders.

According to testimony at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, the man responsible for the incident on November 30 was significantly intoxicated and struggled with alcohol issues, although he did not aim to harm the animals.

One of the kittens was retrieved before it could enter the water, while the other two plunged into the river and were carried away until they reached a mudbank.

Bystanders descended to save them, emerging covered in mud with nearly lifeless, frozen kittens, as recounted by one of the rescuers to the BBC.

The kittens received care at a veterinary clinic for three weeks before moving in with their rescuers—two in Chiswick and one in Suffolk.

Andrew Shephard, 58, has pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and is scheduled to be sentenced in February.