On 07/11/22 at Gregory’s Alley, Norwich, 67 year old Melville Shalder was caught on CCTV deliberately driving his mobility scooter into a pigeon, who was simply minding their own business and harming no one. 

Whilst the injured animal flapped around helplessly on the ground- no doubt frightened and in agony- Shalder got out of his scooter, pinned the pigeon down with his foot and proceeded to crush their head with his walking stick. 

With shocking nonchalance, he left their broken and bloodied dead body in a shop doorway, and carried on with his day. 

The incident made local and national press, and animal lovers across the country were outraged by this gratuitous act of barbarity. 

Norfolk Constabulary was informed (crime reference number 36/86400/22) and with help from the public, Shalders was soon identified. Those who know him claim he is a nasty man who “hates animals”. 

CCTV footage shows Shalder swerving into the pigeon despite having a clear path in front of him, yet the police have chosen to believe his claim that it was “an accident”, and that he only went on to crush the bird’s skull to “put it out of its misery”. As a result, they have decided to take no further action, letting Shalder get away scot-free. 

Anyone who has seen the footage will be left with no doubt as to Shalder’s true intentions. Part of the footage can be seen here https://fb.watch/gZ07ql4New/ on the local pigeon rescue Peck Savers Facebook page, which also posted the second video of Shalder crushing the pigeon with his waking stick. Please be advised it’s extremely upsetting to watch. 

Local animal rights activists have been in touch with the investigating officer, PC 1765 Chris Shelley, and his sergeant, 1711 Matthew Paine (who made the decision to NFA the case), to demand they press charges—but have been insulted with absurd excuses. 

Under section 1(1) (a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to intentionally kill any wild bird. But PC shellley raised what would be the only applicable defence in this context, section 4(2)(b) of the WCA 1981, which states: In relation to the killing of a wild bird, it had been so seriously disabled otherwise than by their unlawful act that there was no reasonable chance of it recovering”

Yet this defence can be completely dismissed, as it was not a “lawful act” that caused the pigeon to be injured, rather Shalder’s deliberately swerving to hit them. 

Furthermore, Shalder is not an avian vet, so who was he to decide, with nothing more than a cursory glance, that the injury they sustained through being hit with the scooter was not one they could recover from? 

For the police to assert that they believe Shalder, or that the clear CCTV footage is “not enough evidence” for a prosecution, is entirely disingenuous. 

The offence is clearly made out, and prosecution is very much in the public interest and that of justice.

To let this man get away with such a brutal and callous act sends the message to him and other sick, like-minded individuals that they can perpetrate animal cruelty with impunity. 

Not only that, but there is a very well established link between animal abusers and those who go on to harm humans when left unpunished. 

This is a clear cut case and demand that it is put to the CPS. Melville Shalder must be charged and prosecuted for this horrific and senseless act of brutality against a sentient being who stood no chance of defending themselves.