BRYAN MACLENNAN FROM ALNESS INVOLVED IN SEAGULL CRUELTY CASES IN INVERGORDON AND KIRKSDIDE

Bryan Maclennan, born around 1987 and residing at 62 Firhill, Alness IV17 0RS, has been involved in a series of disturbing incidents involving wildlife, specifically seagulls, in the Highlands region. His actions have drawn significant attention from local authorities and wildlife protection agencies due to the cruelty inflicted upon these birds.

In a court case that concluded in 2022, Maclennan pleaded guilty to three charges under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The charges stemmed from his deliberate and reckless harm to wild birds, including shooting seagulls with a catapult, stealing their eggs, and keeping an injured bird confined in a cage within his kitchen. The court heard that Maclennan was responsible for injuring a seagull by striking it with a ball bearing shot from a slingshot or a similar device. Additionally, he was found to have taken eggs from wild birds, which is illegal under conservation laws.

The incident that led to his arrest occurred in May 2021 in Invergordon, Easter Ross. Police officers, while patrolling the area, observed Maclennan acting in a suspicious manner. When they approached him, he was attempting to dispose of an injured herring gull he had been carrying in a plastic bag. A subsequent search of his person and his residence uncovered a disturbing collection of items, including slingshots, ball bearings, herring gull eggs, and an injured bird kept in a cage placed on top of a freezer. These findings confirmed his involvement in illegal wildlife activities.

During the court proceedings, Maclennan's solicitor, Neil Wilson, explained that his client had previously provided an explanation for his actions to social workers and had been assessed as posing no risk of reoffending. Despite this, the court took a serious view of his conduct. Sheriff Aitken sentenced Maclennan to a fine of £940 and ordered the forfeiture of the catapults, ball bearings, and gull eggs. The sheriff emphasized that such behavior was unacceptable, stating, “This is not the way to deal with any perceived menace from the birds.”

Sheriff Aitken also expressed concern about the nature of the crimes, noting that anyone willing to use a weapon against a living creature demonstrated troubling tendencies. He remarked, “I take the view that these are in fact fairly serious charges and that anyone who is prepared to use a weapon against another living creature is someone to be concerned about.” The sheriff further added, “Injuring something and then taking it home and keeping it in a cage in the kitchen is also concerning.”

In September 2022, reports emerged that Maclennan had been involved in another incident involving the same type of cruelty. He appeared in court again after being caught catapulting ball bearings at a bird in Kirkside, Alness, on July 24, 2022. He admitted to a further charge under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, acknowledging that he intentionally or recklessly injured and took a wild bird, specifically a gull, during this incident. He admitted to striking the bird and rendering it unconscious before removing it in a bag.

The court was informed that Maclennan had a history of similar offenses, and the sheriff called for pre-sentencing reports. The sheriff warned him that such behavior must cease, stating, “You have been dealt with previously for something very similar. This will need to stop otherwise something most regrettable might happen.” Maclennan is scheduled to return to court for sentencing sometime in October 2022, as authorities continue to address his repeated violations against wildlife laws.