Man who ‘repeatedly punched seagull in front of kids' defends 'brutal' attack
An 'animal lover' who punched a seagull in a 'brutal' attack says the bird should have been trained to not take food from people.
Chris Righton has admitted to 'roughing up' a seagull after the bird attempted to steal his dinner at the Harbour View Café in Porthleven, Cornwall, on July 13.
As the gull made its daring heist, it was caught by Mr Righton who reportedly punched it 'in front of children' in a 'brutal' attack, claimed a witness, as reported by The Sun.
Mr Righton then allegedly 'stuffed the seagull through a fence', which bystanders claimed left the bird with broken wings.
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Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the incident which is said to have occurred near the harbour.
Taking to Facebook to defend his actions, Mr Righton has denied breaking the gulls' wings or killing it, but believes the birds should be trained like dogs to not take food from people.
Mr Righton says seagulls should be trained
He has written a series of public posts and said in the first: “having root canal treatment I felt obliged to give the seagull that attempted to steal my food a little roughing up."
“It’s unfortunate that our local council and ecologist’s [sic] haven’t done what is a simple thing and train the animals not to take food out of our mouths!
“My dog does not take from my table and neither should our gulls.
“I was actually protecting the food of B who has been vegetarian all her life to in her eighties who was kind enough to take me there. She fully supports my actions.
“The bird was not harmed or killed and flies around Porthleven again.”
Mr Righton said he is an 'animal lover' and thinks man and gull can live side by side.
“I am actually an animal lover and believe that with the correct training all species can live in harmony," he wrote.
“Businesses and humans need to take a stand and learn how to harmonise these creatures, understand them and teach them their place in our society as we all have ours.
He then apologised if his actions left anyone upset.
“Sorry for any upset me actions have caused anyone," he added.
It's illegal to injure seagulls
All wild birds – including gulls – as well as their chicks and nests are protected in the United Kingdom under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Unless you are acting under a licence, it is illegal to kill, take or injure gulls, to damage their nests while in use or being built and to take or destroy their eggs.
In a further post, Mr Righton claimed he did not cause any 'damage' to the seagull and that his reaction was 'automatic' after it landed on his table and hit him in the mouth with its wing 'causing intense pain in my face making my eyes water.'
He said: “I didn’t even damage the animal. It was in shock and I guarantee that the gull won’t attack other diners at the harbour side cafe [sic] again (the food was delicious and staff warm and friendly) and just because some idiot tourists decided to further ruin the birds day by capturing it and taking it away from its home where it would have naturally recovered.
“Get a grip, find something useful to do with your day go plant a tree! Why not grow yourselves some food of your own and actually understand the animal cruelty behind your food that you choose to give to the seagulls.”
A police spokesperson said after the incident was first reported: “We have been made aware following a report of a seagull being injured by a man by the harbour in Porthleven on the afternoon of Monday, July 13.
“It was reported the suspect grabbed and punched the seagull leaving it injured. Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.
“Anybody with any relevant footage or information is asked to call 101 or visit our website quoting 50260183379.”
Daniel Murphy