A MAN from Chippenham who shot a chicken with an air gun and hit it with a spade has been given a suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping animals.

George Gale, of Dovey Terrace, Kington Langley, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a domestic fowl by subjecting it to unnecessary fear, pain and distress which resulted in her death.

The 19-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, who were called in March after someone saw Gale beating the domestic fowl.

Gale was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years, sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and made to pay £150 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

RSPCA inspector Ian Burns said: “He was seen just throwing the bird’s body over the fence – though it is impossible to know whether the animal was dead or dying when this happened.

“What we do know is that we found the body of the chicken in a seriously awful state. It was obvious how much the poor bird had been bashed about.

“The vet who examined the body afterwards said the air gun pellets had caused severe bruising but would not have caused the death.

“It is not known exactly what caused the death but it is likely to be the accumulated effect from a sustained, prolonged attack.

“This animal would have suffered a great deal.

“This seems to have been a completely mindless attack with no reason.

“It is important to remember that all animals are protected by the law – chickens the same as dogs, cats and horses – and none deserve to be treated with cruelty.”