Oxfordshire man found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to goose in claimed mercy killing

• A 54-year old man has been convicted of killing a goose after a trial on Monday
• He told magistrates he was putting the bird out of its misery after a dog attack 

A man has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a wild goose, after he was seen kicking the bird to death in Abbey Meadows, Abingdon on 10 August 2022.

Mark Flintham, 54, care of Abingdon Lock, told justices at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today that he was putting the bird out of its misery after it was attacked by a dog.

After pleading not guilty to the charge, he was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the bird and will return for sentencing on Thursday 18 May. 

Prosecutors said Flintham stamped and kicked the bird in order to break its neck.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to kill of injure any wild animal.

Wild birds are protected and cannot be killed or taken except under licence.

It is also an offence to intentionally damage the nest of any wild bird, the egg of any wild bird, to intentionally or recklessly disturb certain birds or their young near an active nest, or to kill or take huntable birds during the close season for that species. 

The killing of the goose in Oxfordshire last year was investigated by Thames Valley Police’s rural crime taskforce.