Young seagull abuser will be arrested again after court no-show

A young man who tortured a seagull at a popular fishing spot, reeling it in after it swallowed his baited hook, will be arrested for a second time after again failing to show up in court.

Connor Joseph Churchill has confessed to catching a seagull on a baited hook then laughing as his mates filmed the "tortured" creature trying to fly away. A warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to show up at court. Picture: FACEBOOK

A YOUNG man who caught a seagull on a fishing hook then laughed as his mates filmed the bird trying to fly away will be arrested a second time after again failing to attend court.

Connor Joseph Churchill, 21, has confessed to reeling in the creature after it swallowed a baited hook – damaging its gastrointestinal tract – on a Midway Point causeway in April 2018.

Churchill then forcefully restrained the silver gull by the neck and asked a friend to wrap fishing line around its leg, allowing the bird to attempt to fly away before it fell into the water.

On Friday, Magistrate Reg Marron issued a warrant to arrest the 21-year-old after he failed to attend court alongside his friend and co-accused Ethan William Seabourne, 20.

Churchill was previously arrested in November last year after failing to show up for an October court date.

Mr Marron said he had ordered a mental health assessment for Churchill, but the youth had not turned up to every appointment.

However, he said a medical report found Churchill had an acquired brain injury and “might have difficulty remembering to turn up to court”.

In December last year, Churchill initially pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals and two counts of aggravated cruelty likely to result in death, deformity or serious disablement.

However, he made an 11th-hour plea change to not guilty to the second aggravated cruelty charge, claiming he didn’t intend to bait the bird.

Mr Seabourne has pleaded not guilty to the same three charges after taking issue with his level of involvement.

The pair was due to face a hearing in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday, although an administrative error meant the matter was listed incorrectly.

Prosecutor Simon Nicholson said because Churchill had not turned up, he did not know whether the youth was still planning to fight the second aggravated cruelty charge.

He requested a new hearing date, which would hear evidence from four witnesses over three hours, including the other youths allegedly present on the day and a local ranger.

Mr Marron, who previously noted that penalties for aggravated animal cruelty could result in up to 60 months’ jail or up to $23,000 in fines, adjourned the matter for hearing on June 18.