Stories1 min(s) read
Published 10:57 27 Nov 2020 GMT
A video has gone viral on social media showing the shocking moment that a pensioner beat a seagull to death with his walking stick after it tried to steal his lunch.
According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, the incident in question occurred in North Wales back in January 2020, when the bird attacked 68-year-old John Nicholson, who hails from Gronant near Prestatyn.
The footage of the attack was captured on a surveillance camera on Market Street, and shows Nicholson walking towards a flock of seagulls gathered on the pavement, clutching a white paper bag containing his lunch from a nearby Gregg's (a chain of bakers in the United Kingdom).
Nicholson then violently strikes one of the birds with his cane, beating it to death in front of stunned onlookers.
The senior citizen can then be seen placing a paper bag in his pocket before heading towards the nearby Lorne Hotel.
Nicholson was later arrested under the Wildlife Countryside Act Protection of Birds law and fined £1,000 ($1,330) after he was convicted in court of intentionally killing a wild bird.
He was also convicted of disorderly behavior by being abusive to police at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.
Per the Daily Mail a spokesman for North Wales Police commented on the incident, stating:
"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."
Meanwhile, an RSPCA Cymru spokesperson stated: "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."
However, this isn't the first time that a thieving seagull has ended up getting someone convicted. Back in August 2019, a Swedish man was charged with possession of marijuana after a seagull stole his bag of weed.
