Youths attack injured swans

Datchet: Teenager arrested after birds are tortured

A swan rescue charity says it has been left ‘heartbroken and disgusted’ after youths broke into its premises and tortured a number of swans with catapults.

Swan Support described the past two weeks as the most difficult in its history after two cygnets and two adults under its care were killed in the ‘mindless’ attack.

The charity, which has a rescue centre near the Queen Mother Reservoir in Datchet, said a group of youths broke in on July 27 and fired at the birds for 20 minutes.

Two birds also suffered life-changing injuries.

Swan Support founder Wendy Hermon said: “To be

honest I’ve had a couple of meltdowns about it.

“I was physically sick when I saw what had happened, its never got me like that before.”

She added: “We are called out regularly to pick up birds who have been injured or killed as a result of such acts and we never thought that the swans in our care would fall victim to such heinous attacks.

“We are both heartbroken and disgusted.”

The charity said it is working alongside Thames Valley Police and the Queen’s Swan Marker to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Police confirmed that a 13year-old boy from Datchet has been arrested on suspicion of injuring a wild bird and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

“I just think these people have got no brains. For these people to do what they’ve done is just not normal human behaviour,” Wendy said.

The teenager has been released on police bail until September 4.

Swan Support said the attack means it will be accelerating its plans to move to its new base at Bray Lake.

A JustGiving page has been set up to fundraise for the new centre.