David Lee, 40, was involved with ‘heavy alcohol use’ at the time (Picture: North News/Getty)
A man who captured a baby seagull and masturbated over it in an alleyway while watching porn has been jailed.
David Lee carried out the bewildering attack in Sunderland in August last year, in what was described as ‘one of the most unusual cases’ ever seen in the judge’s courtroom.
The 40-year-old was handed a 24-week sentence and a 10-year ban from owning animals today, after previously pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Lee was caught after a local resident provided CCTV footage to the police which showed him chasing after the bird at around 1am.
Prosecutor Lesley Burgess told South Tyneside Magistrates Court what happened in the video once the defendant had gotten hold of the seagull.
She said: ‘The defendant takes his phone out of his pocket. He thereafter takes down his trousers.
‘He then goes down – it’s very clear he is masturbating at the time. He then goes on to move the gull to between his legs.
Lee arriving at South Tyneside Magistrates Court for sentencing today (Picture: North News and Pictures)
The 40-year-old was handed a 24-week jail sentence (Picture: North News and Pictures)
‘For a time the defendant is engaging in a sexual act with the baby seagull. The defendant then stands back up.’
She added that Lee then picked up his phone and gave the bird a ‘little kick’ before walking off in the other direction.
The court also heard that police discovered Lee had been watching porn which involved animals when they searched his phone. The prosecution argued this would have distressed the seagull even more.
The woman who first reported the footage to the police told how she had been affected after having to watch Lee’s attack on the bird.
She said: ‘For almost a year the actions of this person have caused me a lot of mental stress and anxiety. I am unable to get the horrendous actions out of my head. I was haunted by what he did.
‘I sincerely hope the sentence gives justice to the bird he defiled. I hope it serves as a deterrent to anyone else who thinks animal abuse is acceptable.’
The case was described as ‘unusual’ (Picture: PA)
David Lee caused unnecessary suffering to a seagull (File picture: Getty Images)
Lee had initially tried to claim that he was attempting to help an injured bird, using his phone to ‘locate a local vet’, but ended up pleading guilty before trial.
His defence lawyer, Annalise Moscardini, highlighted this plea and said it was ‘clearly an unusual offence’.
She said: ‘I would assess that as Mr Lee being unable to understand why he did what he did. There was a genuine disbelief about it.
‘There’s a part of time he doesn’t recall. He doesn’t remember a part of time due to drink. There’s certainly heavy alcohol use. There is not any attempt to cause it any harm.’
Ms Moscardini went on to explain that Lee suffers from a personality disorder, a detachment from reality and pathological lying.
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The court was also told how Lee, of Roker Avenue, Sunderland, had served a prison sentence in 2020 for possession of a bladed article, for which he has another previous conviction for.
Chair of the bench Angela Thompson said: ‘We find this offence is a deliberate attempt to cause suffering and a high level of suffering was caused to the young bird.
‘We have considered the psychological reports and the mitigation from your solicitor.’
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The attack was described as ‘one of the most unusual cases’ ever seen in the judge’s courtroom.
