A MAN has been handed a suspended custodial sentence after admitting killing a goose with an iron bar.
Rhys Maunders, 19, of Nuneaton, was working at a factory in Stoke Bardolph when he threw the bar at the animal on May 17.
Nottingham magistrates heard that Maunders first threw a rock at the domestic goose and then an iron bar.
The iron bar struck the goose and Maunders then hit it again after seeing it had been injured severely.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks' custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 40 hours' unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £977.25 costs after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Prosecuting, Maria Moore said the goose had started to hang around at the poultry processing plant of Chettles Ltd, in Stoke Lane, Stoke Bardolph.
She added: "A vet's report into the incident said that the goose would have unnecessarily suffered if the blow from the iron bar had not killed it instantly."
In mitigation, Ran Johal said the defendant regretted his actions and had not been in court before.
He said: "He did not go out with the intention of killing the goose and his guilty plea is on this basis. But he accepts he struck the goose with the metal bar, which led to its death. It was a reckless action.
"However, he is the only witness in this case. If he had not admitted what he did, there would not be a prosecution, in all likelihood.
"He was taking part in a trainee apprenticeship as an electrician when this happened but he lost his job over this."
Presiding magistrate Mrs P. L. White told Maunders: "This was a serious act of cruelty to an animal and it is clear that you killed the goose.
"You have previous good character and we are aware this is the first time you have been in a situation like this, but it was a cruel act."
After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Chris Shaw said it was an awful case to deal with.
He said: "I'm glad the court has dealt with this offence with the seriousness it deserves.
"It was a terrible attack and the goose suffered before it died. The RSPCA has a duty to prevent cruelty like this happening to animals and we will pursue this matters through the courts, as this case shows."