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A man has been found guilty of brutally killing a seagull by smashing it into a wall after it attempted to nick his chips in Weston-super-Mare.

John Llewellyn Jones killed the bird during a day trip to the seaside town on July 17, 2018, a court heard yesterday (March 12).

The 64-year-old, of Bishopston Road, Cardiff, "shocked bystanders and children" by grabbing the gull by the leg after it knocked his food to the floor.

He then proceeded to smash the bird into a wall.

(Image: SWNS)

Although Jones pleaded not guilty to an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 at North Somerset Magistrates', the accounts of two witnesses were ruled as "credible and compelling" and the defendant was found guilty.

He was sentenced to a 12-week curfew, applicable between the hours of 8pm and 8am, which began immediately.

The man was also ordered to pay £750 in costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Simon Evans, of the RSPCA, said: "This was an unthinkable and despicable way to treat an animal.

"This gull was smashed against a wall by the man solely because it knocked chips from his hand.

"This was deliberate cruelty, borne from the fact that this man cared more for his chips than what his actions did to the poor gull.

"Simply, the man showed blatant disregard for an animal because he was annoyed about his chips.

"Witnesses saw the attack and shocked bystanders, including children, had to look on as the man killed the gull."

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