Man arrested after police found pigeon with gunshot wound

A pigeon by John Rees (File picture)
A pigeon by John Rees (File picture)

Officers have arrested a man after a pigeon was found with a gunshot wound.

Yesterday, June 24, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that one of its officers from the Bolton South Neighbourhood Team attended reports of a gunshot at an unspecified address.

When the officer arrived, they found a "shot and injured" pigeon in the garden.

It injuries are "not believed to be survivable".

Read more: Frustration and upset as couple's bins keep being missed during collection rounds

Read more: 'Urgent update' call on controversial junction scheme

Read more: Overgrown grass in Bolton’s cemeteries ‘an insult to the dead and their loved ones’

After finding the pigeon, a 70-year-old man was arrested at a nearby address on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and firing an air weapon beyond premises.

A spokesperson from GMP's Bolton South Neighbourhood Team said: "PC Waite of the South Neighbourhood Team has responded to reports of the sound of a gunshot, finding a pigeon shot and injured in a garden.

"A 70-year-old male has been arrested at a nearby address on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and firing an air weapon beyond the premises boundary.

"Upon a search of the address, an air rifle was located and seized. The pigeon has been taken to a nearby veterinarian, however at this stage its injuries are not believed to be survivable.

"The male remains in custody for questioning."