This is the sickening moment a teenager held a dead seagull by its wings ‘like a trophy’ after allegedly slaughtering the bird with a catapult.
Witnesses reported three birds being attacked at around 3pm last Saturday near Ashford, Kent.
Video footage showed a boy holding up the white bird by its wings in the vicinity of a church building in the town of Christ Church.
Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the attack, who has since been released on bail pending an investigation.
The disgusting incident is the latest in a spate of attacks on wildlife in the county.
Mother-of-two Jodine Mills, 37, who attempted to confront a group after seeing the killing, branded the incident an act of ‘psychotic behaviour’.
‘They just tortured and killed those birds for no reason other than their own enjoyment and pleasure’, she said.
She can be heard on the clip saying: ‘Just letting you know, this is what your kids are doing to wildlife.’
Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy after video footage captured the moment a teenager held up a seagull like a trophy, after allegedly killing it with a slingshot
Outraged onlookers confronted the group and branded the killing an act of ‘psychotic behaviour’
Ms Mills said later: ‘It’s disgusting. It looked like he was showing it off like a trophy, which just shows how sad and pathetic a person must be.
‘How little must your life hold that you get enjoyment from hurting animals?’
Although is not illegal to possess a catapult in public in England, an arrest is possible if it is clear one has been used to cause damage or harm – or if police believe there is intent to do so.
Stronger punishments need to be enforced against those who inflict cruelty on animals, Ms Mills believes.
She said: ‘When I went back later I did find one juvenile (gull) alive which they had shot, but it couldn’t be saved either because it was hit in the head and suffered a skull fracture.
‘They also twisted its wings so badly it was just hanging on by a little bit of skin.
She added: ‘I also found one of the gulls had been thrown up into a tree while the other gull just had feathers left everywhere.
‘I don’t know what they had done with that carcass.’
She added: ‘I’m just horrified and angry and so overwhelmingly sad for those poor animals and gobsmacked by how utterly cruel this is.
‘People like this are dangerous and need to be taken off the streets as it makes me feel sick.’
The boy was filmed holding up the dead white bird by its wings in the vicinity of a church building
Kent Police confirmed one teenager was arrested in connection with the attack and a separate incident two days earlier.
A spokesperson said: ‘On the afternoon of Saturday, February 22, Kent Police was made aware of a report that a group of teenagers had been seen with a catapult in the Beaver Road area of Ashford, potentially firing objects at wildlife.
‘Community policing officers responded and worked to quickly identify those believed to be responsible and locate them.
‘A 16-year-old was later arrested in connection with the incident and a separate assault in which a catapult was reported used on Thursday, February 20.
‘The boy was released on bail while inquiries continue.’
