WILLIAM SHEEN FROM FORDINGBRIDGE INVOLVED IN CRUELTY TO SWANS AND DOGS AT RIVERSIDE PARK

William Gregory Michael Sheen, a known traveller born around 1997, with addresses previously listed at Queens Gardens, Fordingbridge SP6 1QP, and currently residing on Marryat Road, New Milton, was convicted of multiple animal cruelty offenses. The incidents took place in Riverside Park, Fordingbridge, during the period between July 5 and July 8, 2017, and involved the deliberate harassment and harm of local wildlife and domestic animals.

Sheen’s actions included firing a catapult at swans and their cygnets along the River Avon, an act witnessed by several members of the public. According to court reports, he was seen attempting to force his dog into the water with the apparent intention of encouraging it to chase the birds. When the dog refused to comply, Sheen reportedly dragged her into the air by her lead, causing her to hang in a distressed state, with witnesses noting that the dog was making choking noises. It remains unclear whether this particular dog was the same one involved in the subsequent incidents.

One eyewitness described the dog as being in a “distressed state,” visibly struggling and vocalizing distress as it was lifted and dragged. The incident drew significant concern from the community, highlighting the cruelty inflicted upon the animals involved.

Further reports indicated that later in the same month, Sheen was observed firing a catapult at swans again on the river. This time, he was also seen deliberately setting a dog upon one of the swans. The dog chased the bird into the water, and as it approached, the swan flapped its wings defensively, likely in an attempt to protect itself. Witnesses and photographic evidence presented in court showed the swan with its wings spread wide, with the dog in the water approaching aggressively. The images and eyewitness accounts painted a disturbing picture of animal abuse and distress caused by Sheen’s actions.

Mark Gammon of the Crown Prosecution Service described the incidents as “appalling attacks that caused much distress to the animals involved and the members of the public who witnessed them.” He emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated and that anyone caught engaging in similar offenses would face strict prosecution and punishment.

In April 2018, Sheen was found guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on three charges of attempting to injure wild birds and one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog. The court sentenced him to 260 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year. Additionally, Sheen was disqualified from owning or controlling any dog for two years, a ban that expired in July 2020. His two dogs were confiscated, and he was also banned from visiting Riverside Park or the nearby river for a period of 12 months, in an effort to prevent further incidents of animal cruelty and disturbance in the area.