Man sentenced after "horrific" and "shocking" attack on seagull in Scarborough
Richard Kitching has been given a suspended jail sentence and told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work
A man who carried out a "shocking" attack on a seagull in Scarborough has been given a suspended jail sentence and told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
Richard Kitching was arrested in the early hours of Saturday 13 August 2022 after a police officer saw him throw the bird against a wall on CCTV.
43-year-old Kitching later apologised when he was interviewed by police and an RSPCA inspector.
He must also pay fines and costs totalling £172, and has been disqualified from keeping any animals for 12 months.
PC Lee Holmes, from North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, led the investigation. He said: “Kitching’s actions that night were cruel and shocking.
"The footage of the incident is sickening, and it’s almost beyond belief that someone could behave in this way.
"It’s not surprising that other members of the public were appalled by what they saw, and I’m grateful to those who provided witness statements to ensure Kitching could be brought to justice."