A man from Shalfleet who shot a wild bird with an air rifle from his back garden has been handed an 18-month community order after he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday (23rd September).
Sunny Evelight, 25, of Fleet Way pleaded guilty to 1 count of firing an air weapon beyond premises and 1 count of injuring a non-schedule 1 wild bird when he appeared in front of Magistrates on Friday afternoon.
Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that on 30th June this year, Evelight shot a black-headed gull that was in his back garden with a meteor air rifle – injuring the bird.
The gull – that had suffered severe wing damage – was able to escape the 25-year-old’s garden before being found by children nearby. Noticing that the bird was severely injured, 1 of the children notified their parents who then took the bird to the Green, Roberts and Butler veterinary practice in Newport.
Despite the best efforts of those at the practice, the bird could not be saved and was put down.
Defending Evelight, Jim Osborne said that his client deeply regretted his decision that day and that he had serious mental health issues.
The court had previously heard the case on 2nd September with the decision made for a probation report to be compiled.
At this 2nd hearing, Evelight was handed a 18-month community order which included 20 rehabilitation days.
He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge fee.
You pathetic poor excuse of a man. It’s not mental health, it’s being a nasty little shit who’s cowardly actions is to inflict suffering on those who can’t defend themselves. If only there’s room in prison, stick him in solitary confinement for a long time.
Should be tarred and feathered,then put in stocks in newport town centre.
Mental health disorders and hanging with an air rifle. Imagine that he shot a child! Now a days apparently everyone is mental I’ll. How funny!
his client deeply regretted his decision that day and that he had serious mental health issues.
Only because he was caught – it is a well trodden path, that a person who is cruel to animals, sooner or later is cruel to humans
this imbecile needs to be given an electronic tag for years as wouldn’t surprise me, if he gets off on this sort of thing.
Let us hope that some person with temporary mental health issues causes harm to him, and get off with the same weak sentence, for it is not a ‘punishment’
A frightened bird, in pain, dragging itself through grass and scrub trying desperately to save its short life in severe pain with a broken wing being caught up on all manner of scrub, is what this creepy vile thing caused.
It deserves similar fear and pain
what goes around, comes around – it is likely that at some point in his future, he will suffer some sort of injury in his life and no one will help him.
He intentionally made a lifeform suffer for no good reason and felt that it was ok to do this, because that lifeform does not look like a human. His time will come -not if, when.
I agree with you Isle of wighter. Hurting another life species deliberately, is cruel and cowardly. Like ot or not, Karma can happen – apparently: “you reap what you sow”.
Totally agree with you uncle Ben well said
It’s only because it’s a seagull,if been a pigeon no action. Every day thousands of birds are shot across the UK, many fall injuried to be picked up by fox etc. It’s the mental Health card that’s a worry. And yes clear that cruelty to animals can be directly linked to child abuse – however if you own a cat you are accepting cruelty – cat’s destroy more wildlife than humans, food for cat’s is a tin of Rabbit kept in tiny cage’s fattened up with no access to day light ,if you only knew!. Don’t let this guy near a fire arm again.
Absolute scum wot sort of an excuse!!!! Mental health issues pathetic
Anyone who claims to have mental health as an excuse to avoid a stronger sentence ought to be placed in a mental asylum for the minimum of a year.
Then and ONLY then we would see numbers of the new ‘backpain’ scam of mental illness being used to avoid stronger sentences or to claim more benefits cease expect for those who are genuine.
I don’t know who has the greater problem here the individual who clearly has problems when they shoot a bird or those that have responded on here with such little respect for a fellow human being, who have suggested for punishment, solitary confinement for years, fear pain and suffering, years of being tagged. You all need to think carefully about your language and the affect it might have on others.Setting a good exam and Kindness can change people’s behaviour far more then cruel words.
greg – not a chance -it is your hand wringing, do gooder attitude that has enabled sc um like this to act with virtual impunity.
no – it needs harsh punishment to ensure others do not follow suit.
Agreed, no one is taking away about possible suffering of seagull,but needs to think that likes of Putin has killed thousands of humans and sending his own people to death, North Korea, Iran and other dictatorships,a child dies every 15sec of starvation and police and court’s should be dealing with crime that is destroying families and lives right here on the Island. Pigeon’s and pheasants all shot in name of sport and many will not die instant and suffer maybe for days. This guy did wrong and no one can change that,but if so much hatred on here would destroy anyone’s mental health. If you eat meat or have a cat then you are all guilty of animal cruelty – you are just happy that others do the kill for you
Absolute vermin… should be destroyed like the poor bird!
no one should kill innocent birds who have been on the planet more than us
Unbelievable. Tar him with feathers and put him in stocks. Put him in prison for a long time. Why waste your time just execute the son of a bitch and hang him from a lampost yeah that should do it total payback for injuring a bird. Any evidence of mental health, nah don’t believe it.
They do make a racket those pterodactyls
As would you if your leg was smashed, and you knew someone was about to take your life as you tried to hurry away, dragging a bleeding broken leg
I can imagine you would be very vocal too.
THINK, just because animals have no voice they still feel pain and fear.
Unlike the lying creep who shot it, who will be getting aid for its whole life for whatever aliment it has or imagines it has.
Cor they’ve all got broken legs?
Every single comment here is from some unhinged wannabe vigilante. You lot might want to get off that stinking shitty island you call home, there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t think like backwards imbeciles.