Prisoners at HMP Isle of Wight are injuring and torturing birds, with the latest incident resulting in a gull having its feathers plucked and a Nazi swastika drawn on its head.
It was on Friday last week (6th June) that a Lesser Black Backed Gull was grabbed by a prisoner at the Isle of Wight’s only prison in Newport, and subjected to serious abuse.
The bird’s feathers – both tail and flight – were cruelly pulled from its body, and a swastika – associated with Nazi Germany – was painted on its head.
Shockingly, this isn’t the first time that a bird has been injured at the hands of serving prisoners, with another gull found covered in yellow paint in June last year.
That incident was reported to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and HMP Isle of Wight was made aware of the incident, but because the culprit was an inmate, the Police said that any resulting punishment would be comparatively low level.
It was said at the time that officers were going to help ensure that appropriate measures were in place to stop similar incidents from happening again, but 12 months on and the cruelty persists.
Island Echo is told that birds are often captured before being boiled in prisoners’ kettles within their cells.
The latest bird to be injured is currently being cared for by Skippers Sanctuary, a local charity organisation. Since the ordeal, volunteers at Skippers have kept a watchful eye on the bird – now affectionately known as Belinda – as she rebuilds her confidence ahead of her release.
‘Sunshine’, the bird that was covered in paint last year, remains in the Sanctuary’s care.
Speaking to Island Echo about Belinda’s ordeal, a Skippers Sanctuary spokesperson has said:
“If it were humans they were doing this to, they would get time added to their sentence, but because their victim is not a human, no one in a position to take action seems to think it warrants any”.
It remains unclear as to just how the birds were captured by those serving time at His Majesty’s pleasure, many of whom are sex offenders.
In 2012, it was reported how prisoners here on the Isle of Wight were being allowed to keep pet budgies, canaries and parrots in their cells.
Torture the evil b@st@rds and see how they like it
There are some cruel sick B’stards in this world.
This is proof these dangerous sick persons are not
safe to enter back into society.
Why are people that violently and sexually abuse children or rapists of vulnerable people, allowed animals in a cage, in a cell? Parrots belong in the wild amazon jungle why is the governor condoning this cruelty? The animals didn’t commit any crime, and we all know abusers like to torture animals too.
Ban animals in prisons. Now.
The world is a Fcuked up place.
Is there any hope for the human race