A man, identified as Charlie Righton, reportedly attacked a seagull in Porthleven, Cornwall, in July, an incident witnessed by families at the Harbour View Cafe. Righton is alleged to have grabbed, punched, and struck the bird against a wall before placing it through a fence. Witnesses described the attack as "brutal" and stated the bird appeared to have broken wings.
Righton has since defended his actions, claiming the bird attempted to steal his food and that he was reacting to pain from the bird’s wing hitting him in the mouth. He stated that the seagull was not harmed or killed and continues to fly in the area. He also suggested that tourists who intervened "ruined" the bird's day by taking it away.
In online posts, Righton attributed the incident to a lack of training for wild birds. He expressed disappointment that local councils and ecologists have not addressed what he called the "habit" of seagulls approaching people for food. "My dog does not take from my table and neither should our gulls," he wrote. He further stated, "I am actually an animal lover and believe that with the correct training all species can live in harmony."
Bystanders and online commentators have condemned Righton's actions, with some questioning the idea of training wild animals and others asserting that aggression towards animals is unacceptable. One witness reported that the seagull was left "floundering with two broken wings" after the assault.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they were made aware of a report of a seagull being injured by a man on July 13. Enquiries were reported to be ongoing. According to the RSPCA, all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to intentionally kill, take, or injure them without a license.