Shane Arthur Poingdestre (35), of Hampshire Gardens, pleaded guilty to kicking the bird, which was put down afterwards by the JSPCA, on the afternoon of 17 July in Bath Street.
The court heard from Centenier Danny Scaife that Poingdestre’s act of aggression was reported to police by a member of the public. An officer reviewed CCTV footage and was able to identify the defendant from it. The Centenier said that the bird was taken by staff from the JSPCA but it was already emaciated and had an historical injury to its wing. Mainly as a result of the old injuries, the animal was put to sleep.When questioned by the police, the court heard that Poingdestre admitted kicking the pigeon and said it happened because of ‘anger and drunkenness’. He admitted it was a silly thing to do.
From the dock the defendant apologised repeatedly and tried to say that he had accidentally hurt the pigeon. He said: ‘I just sort of tripped and made contact with it.’ However, Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz pointed out that he had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing cruelty to an animal by aggressively kicking it.
Poingdestre was also dealt with for four offences of theft of alcohol from a Co-op supermarket in July. In three instances he stole three £4.99 four pack cans of Stella Artois and on the fourth occasion took 12 bottles of French lager valued at £12.99 from the Food Hall in Val Plaisant.
Advocate Alison Brown, defending, said that the offending happened at a time of her client’s life that was ‘chaotic’. However, she said that her client was seeking help for alcohol issues. The defendant told the court: ‘I want to go to Silkworth Lodge and sort my drinking.’
Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said that she was prepared to give Poingdestre one last opportunity but told him that if he failed on probation, then he would go to prison.
She also made a compensation order of £9.98 to the Co-op.
