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More on KentOnline
Sickening footage shows the moment a cruel teen holds up a dead seagull by its wings “like a trophy” after it was reportedly killed with a catapult.
The video shows the youth posing with the bird outside a church in Ashford while another boy captures the moment on his mobile phone.
Three gulls are said to have died after being shot on Saturday afternoon, and a 16-year-old boy has since been arrested and bailed.
It is the latest worrying incident amid a spate of attacks on wildlife in the county.
A KentOnline investigation previously revealed how animal abusers are posting videos of their horrific deeds on social media sites such as TikTok.
Saturday’s catapult killings, which occurred at about 3pm outside Christ Church in Beaver Road, were witnessed by South Ashford resident Jodine Mills.
The 37-year-old says she saw a group of teens shoot one seagull with a ball-bearing before she discovered another dead.
The mum-of-two took a third wounded bird to Vets Now, a practice in Kingsnorth, but it succumbed to its injuries later that evening.
She said: "They just tortured and killed those birds for no reason other than their own enjoyment and pleasure and that's psychotic behaviour.
"It's disgusting. It looked like he was showing it off like a trophy, which just shows how sad and pathetic a person must be.
“How little must your life hold that you get enjoyment from hurting animals?”
Although is not illegal to possess a catapult in public in England, an arrest is possible if it is clear one has been used to cause damage or harm - or if police believe there is intent to do so.
Ms Mills says stronger punishments need to be enforced when it comes to animal cruelty.
"When I went back later I did find one juvenile (gull) alive which they had shot, but it couldn't be saved either because it was hit in the head and suffered a skull fracture,” she said.
“They also twisted its wings so badly it was just hanging on by a little bit of skin.
"I also found one of the gulls had been thrown up into a tree while the other gull just had feathers left everywhere so I don't know what they had done with that carcass.”
She added: "I'm just horrified and angry and so overwhelmingly sad for those poor animals and gobsmacked by how utterly cruel this is.
"People like this are dangerous and need to be taken off the streets as it makes me feel sick."
Police have confirmed one teenager has been arrested in connection with the attack and a separate incident two days earlier.
A spokeswoman said: "On the afternoon of Saturday, February 22, Kent Police was made aware of a report that a group of teenagers had been seen with a catapult in the Beaver Road area of Ashford, potentially firing objects at wildlife.
"Community policing officers responded and worked to quickly identify those believed to be responsible and locate them.
"A 16-year-old was later arrested in connection with the incident and a separate assault in which a catapult was reported used on Thursday, February 20.
"The boy was released on bail while inquiries continue."
Vets Now Ashford and the RSPCA have been approached for comment.
KentOnline has also previously revealed how Ashford is the “catapult capital” of the county.
A response from Kent Police to our Freedom of Information Request showed the borough had 218 recorded incidents between 2018 and June 2023, with the next highest being Maidstone with 145.
Last month, a family’s home in Willesborough was targeted by catapult yobs during the evening of January 10.
The day before, there was a similar attack on a house in Tenterden.
Homeowner Matt Sendall-King said: “Why do kids even have catapults, which are, at the end of the day, weapons? It’s just mindless vandalism.”
