A POOLE man who was filmed pulling the head off a wood pigeon has been handed a five-year criminal behaviour order.

Scott Cochrane admitted killing the bird in Barnes Crescent, Bournemouth, at some point between October 1 and 15, last year.

A video of the incident was later uploaded to Facebook.

Appearing at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on February 26, the 25-year-old entered a guilty plea to one count of killing a wild bird, and was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge.

On August 28, at the same court, he was issued a criminal behaviour order with conditions intended to prevent his harming wild animals or being involved in antisocial behaviour.

Police Sergeant Andy Napper, of Rossmore, Alderney, Branksome and Newtown Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This order sends a strong message that we will be tough on those who commit rural crime, animal cruelty and antisocial behaviour in Dorset.”

The order states that Cochrane, of Arne Avenue, must not act, or incite others to act, in an “antisocial” manner or use “threatening, intimidating, insulting or abusive words or behaviour” in any public place in Dorset.

He is also prohibited from being in possession of a wild animal or wild bird or any part of the same, living or dead, from being in possession of a catapult in a public place or on private land as a trespasser, and from allowing a dog under his control to be off a lead except on private land with the landowner’s written permission.

The case was prosecuted by Dorset Police, which also applied for the order prior to sentencing in February, however hearings were postponed and the order was not imposed until August.

John Rampton, Borough of Poole cabinet member for the environment, said the council had not identified a major problem with the illegal killing of wild animals around Poole.

“As the portfolio holder, and of course as a human being, I abhor cruelty to animals, there is no excuse for it,” he said.