A 19 YEAR-OLD man(?) has been charged with cruelty after allegedly driving his car at speed through a flock of cockatoos, killing 25 of the birds.

Witnesses to the incident in Sydney Australia have told the RSPCA and police the man crossed to the wrong side of the road to drive through the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.

He then drove off with his three passengers, police said.

The incident happened on November 28 last year at Barden Ridge in Sydney's south.

The man was arrested last night and charged with 25 counts of aggravated cruelty and 25 counts of harming protected fauna. He also was charged with traffic offences.

He will appear in Sutherland local court on February 26.

My Australian friend who sent me this information suggested the driver concerned in this incident 'ought to be bathed in honey and spread-eagled over an ant heap'.

Good idea, but I could think of much better, such as hung, drawn and quartered for a start.

Update on the moron's sentence when it is received.

Thanks to John Tallon for the information.

A man who drove into a flock of cockatoos, killing 25 birds, was sentenced to 400 hours community service in a Sydney court today.

Scott Osborne, 20, of Revesby, pleaded guilty in Sutherland Local Court to aggravated cruelty over the November 2003 incident.

Osborne killed 25 cockatoos by running into them with his car at Barden Ridge in Sydney's south, the court was told.

Magistrate Jennifer Giles ordered Osborne undertake 400 hours community service, saying the sentence should deter other young men who drove their cars at animals for fun.

RSPCA NSW chief inspector Don Robinson said the penalty exceeded that often imposed by the courts.

"The RSPCA is pleased with this result," Mr Robinson said.

"We hope the courts are now recognising there is no place in our state for wanton animal cruelty."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Cockatoo-killer-gets-community-service/2005/01/31/1107020318198.html?oneclick=true

RSPCA praises cockatoo killer's sentence

A man has been sentenced to 400 hours community service over the death of 25 cockatoos in Sydney's south-west.

Scott Osborne, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after he swerved his car into a flock of cockatoos in Barden Ridge in October 2003.

He has also been ordered to pay the RSPCA $1,200 for costs involving treating or euthanasing the animals.

RSPCA chief inspector Don Robinson says it is an appropriate sentence.

"It's an exercise that's got absolutely no basis in human nature," he said.

"The poor old cockatoo is a icon of Australia and just sitting on the side of the road having a feed and having somebody do this in such a deliberate act of cruelty is beyond belief."

Comment:

Community service is a start - but not nearly enough punishment for this pathetic excuse for a human being, hopefully - maybe - someone will - at the very least ' bathe him in honey and leave him spread-eagled over an ant heap'.