Pupils’ chickens battered to death

Pupils were devastated after a yob beat their school chickens to death with a tennis racquet.

The head of Bowbridge Primary School, Newark, Mr David Dixon, said it was a despicable act.

“This was a pre-meditated, evil act,” he said.

“It was carried out knowing what the consequences would be. It was perverted pleasure.”

Mr Dixon said the children were devastated at the death of the two Calder Ranger chickens.

Footage from a video camera set up so pupils could monitor the chickens shows the attack lasted eight minutes.

Based on the footage and size six footprints found at the scene the school believes the attacker was a child.

He walked past the school and returned with a racquet stolen from a school shed.

He jumped into the chicken coop and shut the door behind him so the birds could not escape. He threw stones at them and beat them.

Teaching assistant Miss Leander Eaves took the chickens into school as part of a project.

The school is planning to look after several ex-battery hens to compare their behaviour with that of free-range birds.

Miss Evans found the chickens’ bodies when she arrived to feed them on Tuesday.

“I bought the chickens to help teach the children how to care for animals,” she said.

“It was a mindless, vicious and brutal attack.

“It wasn’t a gang, it was a child on their own which I find the most disturbing thing.”

Children have repaired the damaged coop.

Elliott Jones (11) said: “It was just nasty. He just killed them for no reason.”

James Horton (11) said: “We have never had anything like a farm before and we were very excited about it.”

Kiren Orrey (11) said whoever was responsible should go to prison.

Mr Dixon said they would still go ahead with the project.

“We have suffered with vandalism before and we have stuck at it,” he said. “We will not be put off.”

RSPCA inspector Mr Ian Callingham said it was a shocking and senseless attack.

“The hens would have endured considerable suffering and distress,” he said.

“I hope that anyone with information about this will come forward for the sake of the animals as well as for the children and community who have all been deeply affected by this horrific incident.”

The youth is described as white, 5ft 2in tall and was wearing a white or light-coloured hooded top and black or dark blue tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down the side to just below the knee.

Anybody found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could face a six month prison sentence and/or a £20,000 fine.

At the request of the school the Advertiser is carrying an edited video of the incident in an effort to help it find the culprit.