'Eccentric' student who ripped off pigeon's head claimed he was going to eat it

An "eccentric" student caught a pigeon with his bare hands and ripped its head off, before telling onlookers he was going to eat it to "stop it going to waste". Jonathon Leslie, from Aberdeen, was later found with the decapitated bird in the footwell of his car with some of its feathers plucked after police caught him drink-driving. The 23-year-old geoscience and French student had been watching the Last Night of the Proms on TV with friends after downing wine with dinner, on September 10 last year.

The group - all students at St Andrews University - then decided to take candles and explore the derelic Abbey Park House mansion in the centre of the Fife town, claiming to be "interested in the architecture". Fiscal depute Brian Robertson told Cupar Sheriff Court: "Without warning the accused was seen to seize hold of a pigeon that had taken flight as a result of being disturbed. "He then pulled the head from the bird, causing it's instant death. He claimed to the witnesses there that he intended to eat the pigeon."



Police were called when security staff noticed Leslie and his friends on CCTV, the court heard. They discovered the bird, partially plucked, in the rear passenger footwell of Leslie's car. Mr Robertson said: "The accused admitted responsibility for it and appeared to believe he had done nothing wrong." Leslie, of Morningside Grove, Aberdeen, admitted intentionally or recklessly killing a wild bird by removing its head with his hands. He also admitted a charge of drink-driving. Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly said his client had taken a leave from university last year "due to certain mental health difficulties".

He was "exceptionally nervous" at meeting his friends, because of his mental health issues, and wanted to impress upon them that he was doing well, the court heard. Mr Kelly said: "He's a man of his own tastes, somewhat eccentric in his dress sense. He's a one off. It was an impulsive act. It was a moment of bravado and nothing more. He deeply regrets the suffering he caused to the bird and hopes the events of this sorry evening don't impinge on his future career." Sheriff Mungo Bovey fined Leslie £400 for killing the bird and a further £350 for drink-driving, and banned him from driving for a year.