Police in Cornwall are investigating reports that a tourist punched a seagull to death after the bird allegedly stole food from him in the seaside town of St Ives. The incident reportedly took place on June 10 and has sparked widespread outrage among local residents, animal welfare advocates and social media users.
Witness Account
According to witnesses, the man was walking with his wife and child when a seagull swooped down and snatched a Cornish pasty from him. Rather than simply shooing the bird away, he allegedly grabbed it and repeatedly punched it. Boat tour guide Rosie Reynolds, who said she witnessed the incident, described the attack as shocking.
“He just grabbed it and punched it hard in the chest,” Reynolds told local media. “After three or four punches, the bird went limp.” She claimed the bird was then thrown to the ground and appeared severely injured. Reynolds said she and other bystanders confronted the man, but he allegedly responded with insults before walking away.
Another witness claimed the suspect had purchased food shortly before the incident and appeared impatient and rude during the interaction.
Social Media Backlash
The alleged attack quickly gained attention online after local resident Pauly Ford shared photographs of the man on social media and urged users to help identify him. Internet sleuths subsequently claimed the individual was Jonathan “Jonny” Roberts from Bradford, Yorkshire. Reports also alleged that Roberts later shared a now-deleted social media post showing himself wearing the same outfit seen in photographs taken at the harbor that day. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the suspect's identity.
Police Investigation
Devon and Cornwall Police have since launched an investigation and appealed for witnesses, photographs and video footage from anyone who may have been in the area at the time. In a statement, police said they received a third-party report about the alleged attack and were aware of the widespread social media discussion surrounding the case. However, officials noted that no eyewitnesses initially reported the incident directly to police.
Context of Animal Abuse Incidents
The case is the latest in a string of tourist-related animal abuse incidents to spark backlash both locally and online. Just last month, a visitor from Seattle was arrested in Hawaii after allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, resulting in animal harassment charges and widespread condemnation. The investigation into the St Ives incident remains ongoing as authorities work to determine exactly what happened.
