Man who beat up seagull in front of shocked families says the wild birds should be better trained

A man who ‘brutally’ beat up a seagull in front of young families after it swooped for his food has called for wild birds to be trained – while claiming he is, in fact, an ‘animal lover’.

Charlie Righton attacked the bird in July at the Harbour View Cafe in Porthleven, Cornwall, while having lunch with a companion.  

It is understood Mr Righton, believed to be from Truro, grabbed and punched the seagull, and then ‘smashed’ it against the cafe’s wall and ‘stuffed [it] through the fence’. 

The bird was allegedly rescued by tourists, who Mr Righton deemed ‘idiotic’ and said rather ‘ruined’ the seagull’s day by ‘taking it away from its home’.

The harrowing incident, which witnesses said left the bird with broken wings, took place by the harbour on the afternoon of July 13. 

Mr Righton has since defended the attack, described by bystanders as ‘brutal’, as he called out his local council and ecologists for failing to ‘train’ the habit out of the wild animal.

In one post, he said that ‘having root canal treatment I felt obliged to give the seagull that attempted to steal my food a little roughing up’.

While denying breaking the bird’s wings or killing it, he wrote: ‘It’s unfortunate that our local council and ecologists haven’t done what is a simple thing and train the animals not to take food out of our mouths! My dog does not take from my table and neither should our gulls.

‘I was actually protecting the food of B who has been vegetarian all her life to her eighties who was kind enough to take me there. She fully supports my actions. 

‘The bird was not harmed or killed and flies around Porthleven again.’ 

Mr Righton added: ‘I am actually an animal lover and believe that with the correct training all species can live in harmony. 

‘Businesses and humans need to take a stand and learn how to harmonise these creatures, understand them and teach them their place in our society as we all have ours. Sorry for any upset my actions have caused anyone.’

In a separate post, as reported by Cornwall Live, he described being in ‘intense pain’ after the bird’s wing hit him in the mouth, causing the ‘automatic’ reaction to ensue. 

He added on Facebook, which includes a bio that reads ‘one life live to the max!!!!!’: ‘I didn’t even damage the animal. It was in shock and I guarantee that the gull won’t attack other diners at the harbour side cafe again (the food was delicious and staff warm and friendly) and just because some idiot tourists decided to further ruin the bird’s day by capturing it and taking it away from its home where it would have naturally recovered.

‘Get a grip, find something useful to do with your day go plant a tree! Why not grow yourselves some food of your own and actually understand the animal cruelty behind your food that you choose to give to the seagulls.’

Commentators jumped to the seagull’s defence, with one writing: ‘No aggression towards any animal is acceptable and I’m sure you would have some strong words for me if I’d “roughed up” your dog.’

Mr Righton has since defended the attack, described by bystanders as ‘brutal’, as he called out his local council and ecologists for failing to ‘train’ the habit out of the wild animal

While another said: ‘I’d love to see you train a seagull.’

A third person added: ‘Trained? A wild animal? Maybe we could train weaver fish not to sting, or pigeons not to coo!

‘If you were in that much pain, why were you visiting a cafe? And people who saw your attack were very clear the bird was badly harmed.’

A fourth posted: ‘Ah yes, thank you for this eloquent manifesto on proportionate response and animal husbandry.

‘What a relief to learn that you think the seagull can still fly around Porthleven, truly the bar for “not harming animals” has never been set so low.

‘And what touching dedication to vegetarian B and her chips, though I do wonder if she knew her lunch companion had recently become a martial arts enthusiast after dental work. Your dream of teaching all species their place in society is admirable.’

At the time of the incident, a witness wrote on social media: ‘This man brutally and repeatedly smashed a seagull against the wall of the Harbour View Cafe because it tried to steal some food.

‘He then stuffed the seagull through the fence onto the road, where it floundered with two broken wings. This was in front of numerous people and children who were hugely upset.’

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said in July: ‘We have been made aware following a report of a seagull being injured by a man by the harbour in Porthleven on the afternoon of Monday, July 13.

‘It was reported the suspect grabbed and punched the seagull leaving it injured.

‘Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.

‘Anybody with any relevant footage or information is asked to call 101 or visit our website quoting 50260183379.’

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, according to the RSPCA. 

It is illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure seagulls, take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy any seagull nests while they’re being used or built. One must have a licence to do so.