Man, 35, is charged over ‘swan attack’ after video showed him ‘dragging animal by its neck through a park’
- Police have charged the Caerphilly man with taking one wild bird
A man who allegedly grabbed a swan by the neck and dragged it through a park has been charged with taking the protected wild bird.
Scott Price, 35, has been charged following the attack in the park at Caerphilly Castle in South Wales on Sunday, December 3, Gwent Police confirmed.
A video shared on social media showed a man carrying the bird by its neck through the park as the swan flapped its wings in an attempt to break free. He claimed he only started dealing with the animal after it attacked his child.
Police arrested him on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and took him in for questioning before charging him with taking the bird.
He will appear at Newport Magistrates' Court on Monday, December 18.
A video shared on social media showed a man carrying the bird by his neck in a park
Brandon Ryzy, 21, said he confronted the man who claimed the swan had “attacked his children.”
Mr. Ryzy shouted, “Put the fuck down!” His call was echoed by fellow park visitors who shouted “put it down!”
Mr Ryzy was walking home from his Christmas shopping at around 4.20pm on Sunday December 3 when he saw the man dragging the bird.
Photos and videos shared on Facebook show the man carrying the swan in one hand and what appears to be a bottle in the other.
Mr Ryzy claimed the man 'had alcohol on him' during the 'absolutely disgusting' incident and was reluctant to put the bird down.
“I had to be very aggressive to get him to stop,” he told the news station, recalling how the swan flapped its wings until it fell.
He explained how the bird's feathers were ruffled where its neck was grabbed and claimed he was apparently 'in shock'.
“I saw the man walking away and stayed with the bird to see if he could get back to the canal,” Mr Ryzy said.
The student, who shared footage of the incident online in a bid to help identify the man, said bystanders at a nearby pub also witnessed the incident and reported it to Gwent Police.
Police told MailOnline that officers searched the area but the man was not found.
Police appealed for him and confirmed he had been arrested for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
All unmarked mute swans found in open waters in England are considered the property of the King and are protected by the Monarch's Swan Guard.
This means that taking a swan with you can be considered theft. Killing or injuring a swan may also result in criminal damages or a wildlife crime.