Man Fined More Than £1,000 After Killing Seagull That Tried To Steal His Lunch

A man has been told to pay out more than £1,000 after he killed a seagull by whacking it with his walking stick when it tried to nick his lunch.

John Nicholson, 68, from Gonant in Wales, was convicted of intentionally killing a wild bird as well as disorderly behaviour after he was abusive to police.

CCTV footage caught the incident, which took place in Rhyl in January this year.

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At Llandudno Magistrates' Court, chairman Alwyn Lloyd Ellis said the CCTV 'clearly shows an act of intent by the defendant. As a result, the bird died.'

The bird was found 'smashed to bits' in the street and Nicholson was arrested under the Wildlife Countryside Act Protection of Birds Law.

A passer-by said she scooped up the seagull's remains into a box so that children wouldn't see the 'disgusting' carcass left behind.

Nicholson, who had no previous convictions, was given a fine.

He was told to pay £180 for each of the two charges and an additional £652 in costs.

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A spokesperson for North Wales Police told the Daily Mail at the time: "We responded to an incident on Market Street, Rhyl at 12.26 pm yesterday following reports that an elderly man was hitting a bird with a walking stick.

"The 67-year old man has now been arrested under the Wildlife Countryside Act Protection of Birds law and has been taken into custody."

An RSPCA Cymru spokesperson added: "These allegations are very shocking and extremely serious.

"This matter is being investigated by North Wales Police and we are unable to comment further for legal reasons."

Last year, a man was handed a 12-week curfew after he killed a seagull that had tried to grab his chips.

John Llewellyn Jones was on a day-trip in Weston-super-Mare when he grabbed the bird by the leg and smashed it against a wall in front of children and other shocked passers-by.

North Somerset Magistrates Court was told the man had some chips which the bird knocked out of his hand.

In retaliation to the bird's actions, Jones caught the protected gull by the leg and bashed it against a wall, resulting in its death.

As well as the curfew, he was also ordered to pay£750 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Topics: crime, Animals, Wales

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19