Man fined £140 after kicking herring gull chick

A “callous” 21-year-old man has been fined £140 for repeatedly kicking a herring gull chick which later died.

• 21-year-old man fined for kicking herring gull chick so badly that it died a day later

• Jack Mackay’s act branded “callous” as man fined £140

At one point, Jack Mackay ran towards the young bird and kicked it through the air in the centre of Dingwall in the Highlands.

Apeearing at the town’s JP court, Mackay, from Conon Bridge in Ross-shire, admitted repeatedly kicking the herring gull chick, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, at Pavilion Court on August 1 last year.

The chick was subsequenly taken to a nearby vet’s surgery by a concerned member of the public, but sadly died the following day.

Craig Harris, Procurator Fiscal of Wildlife and Environment, said: “This was a callous act against a helpless baby seagull.

“Wild birds are protected under our wildlife laws and those who choose to commit wanton acts of violence against them can expect to face robust action.”