A man has admitted performing a sex act while kneeling over a captured seagull and watching pornography on his mobile phone.
David Lee, 40, from Roker Avenue, Sunderland, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the bird at 1am last August 17.
Gulls on the roof of South Tyneside Magistrates' Court could be heard calling out as the bench watched CCTV of the 'bizarre' incident, which happened in a back street of Gladstone Street, Sunderland.
Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, told the court Lee chased one bird before picking up a smaller gull - and was caught on CCTV looking at his phone while holding the bird between his legs and masturbating.