A MAN who fired a catapult at swans and encouraged his dog to chase the birds in an "appalling" attack has been warned not to visit the River Avon.

William Sheen attempted to harm the swans and their cygnets in Riverside Park, Fordingbridge on dates between July 5 and 8 2017.

One witness spotted him trying to force his dog into the water to chase the birds. When the dog didn't give chase, Sheen, 21, dragged it into the air by its lead.

The dog was in a "distressed state" and "making choking noises".

Sheen, of Marryat Road, New Milton, was found guilty of three charges of attempting to injure wild birds and one of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog following a trial at Southampton Magistrates' Court in April.

He has now been banned from visiting the park or the river for 12 months. In addition, magistrates ordered him to carry out 260 hours of unpaid work within a year.

He has also been disqualified from owning or controlling any dog for two years. Both of his dogs will be taken away from him.

Mark Gammon of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Sheen was seen by members of the public to be firing a catapult at some swans and cygnets on the River Avon before attempting to encourage his dog to enter the water to chase them.

"When the dog wouldn’t give chase, Sheen pulled it up by its lead so that it was hanging in the air, with its back legs kicking the water below.

"The dog was in a distressed state and making choking noises.

"Later that month, Sheen was again seen firing a catapult at swans on the river, before deliberately setting a dog on one of the swans.

"The dog chased the swan in the river and as it approached, the swan flapped its wings defensively.

"Along with eye witness accounts, a photograph was presented to the court in evidence of the swan with its wings spread out with the dog in the water approaching it.

"These were appalling attacks that caused much distress to the animals involved and the members of the public who witnessed them.

This case serves as a warning to others that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and anyone caught carrying out offences of this nature will be robustly prosecuted and punished.”