Fury at man who kicked seagull (From Worcester News)

Fury at man who kicked seagull

9:00am Tuesday 9th August 2011 in News Exclusive By James Connell

POLICE had to escort a man from a crowd of people furious at seeing him kick a seagull into a shop window.

Gareth Brown had to be arrested for his own protection after he kicked the bird in the Shambles in Worcester, sparking an angry public outcry. Brown, aged 45, of London Road, Worcester, who suffers from depression, admitted a section five public order when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Monday.

Section five public order involves “using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within hearing or sight of another likely to be caused harassment alarm or distress”.

The incident happened on Saturday, July 23 and was witnessed by two police officers.

Mark Johnson, prosecuting, said: “It’s a rather unusual case. A seagull was seen to swoop low over other people, including some children. The seagull appears to be coming in to land. The defendant than kicks it with a great deal of force and it thereafter hits a shop window and lands on the pavement, stunned.

“The crowd is somewhat incensed by what has gone on and the police have to remove this gentleman for his own safety. It caused a great deal of excitement and distress in the crowd.”

Mr Johnson said some people believed the animal was concussed and the gull was seen to be limping when it began moving again.

Rebecca Connolly, defending, said: “He now accepts it was an extremely stupid thing to do. A few weeks ago a seagull had tried to take an ice cream from his daughter. He saw a five or six-year-old child and saw the seagull heading towards the child and it came back to him what had happened to his own daughter and he lashed out at the seagull.”

Brown also admitted failing to surrender to custody (bail act offences) on August 2 and August 5 when he failed to turn up at court.

Miss Connolly said Brown, who claims £108 a fortnight on jobseeker’s allowance, had recently come off anti-depressants after using them for four years, which had caused him to get confused.

Magistrates fined Brown £50 for kicking the seagull and ordered him to pay £85 prosecution costs. They gave him an absolute discharge for both bail act offences.