Man captured injured seagull in alleyway and pleasured himself over it
A man has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a seagull after he captured it and pleasured himself while watching porn on his phone.
David Lee carried out the bewildering attack in an alleyway in Sunderland in what was described as ‘one of the most unusual cases’ ever seen.
The 40-year-old, of Roker Avenue, pleaded guilty to carrying out a sexual act involving a herring gull at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
It’s classified as an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
CCTV footage shown in court showed Lee kneeling down with the bird between his legs in a narrow passageway near Gladstone Street at around 1am.
He was then seen pulling his pants off and appearing to masturbate with the bird close to his groin area while watching pornography on his phone.
The defendant then kicked the bird away and walked off.
Describing the video evidence seen in court, prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: ‘At around 1am the defendant was seen chasing a gull down the road.
‘The second piece of footage sees the defendant chasing the same bird down the road.
‘In the third piece of footage, the defendant has a different bird in his hand. It is a smaller bird.
‘You see the defendant with the bird in his arms and he goes a short space down the road. It is clear from the CCTV footage that the defendant is masturbating.
‘The defendant places the bird close to his groin and in between his legs. He goes back to his phone and continues with the act.’
She continued: ‘He pulls his trousers up and gives a kick to the bird. He picks up his phone and starts to walk off.’
After the incident, Lee was arrested at a nearby takeaway where he told police he’d picked the seagull up because he thought it was injured and was searching on his phone for how to help it.
But the court heard how the defendant’s phone was seized by police who found he’d in-fact searched for porn sites and not for a vet or the RSPCA..
Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said Lee had some history of mental health issues and ‘can’t explain his actions’.
She told magistrates she is seeking a psychiatric report for Lee following the incident in August last year.
One of the most unusual cases ever
Chair of magistrates, Kay Gilbert, said: ‘The word bizarre has been used on more than one occasion.
‘I have to say that as an experienced magistrate, this is one of the most unusual cases we have come across in the magistrates’ court.’
She adjourned the case for a sentencing hearing on May 23 at South Tyneside Magistrates Court and granted Lee unconditional bail.
Anna Malia, founder of North East Animal Rights group and volunteer with animal charity, Pawz for Thought, condemned Lee’s actions.
She said: ‘We are satisfied with today’s outcome. It sends a clear message that animals are innocent and humans are not superior.
‘When this bird was ill and in need of medical attention, they were captured, brutalised, and kicked aside when the perpetrator had finished with them.
‘We want to say a huge thank you to Northumbria Police and PC Peter Baker for their dedication and commitment to bring this case to court.
‘We want to send a message to those who think it is acceptable to hurt wildlife – we will find you, we will pursue you through the legal system with all the publicity that may bring.’
In other bizarre news last week, two brothers were jailed after forcing a man to drink urine from a bottle.
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