Man forced bird to drink whisky

The judge praised Maxwell for being drug and alcohol free

A man who forced a chicken to drink whisky and blew cannabis smoke in its face before suffocating it has been spared jail by a County Durham court.

Gary Maxwell, 21, also smashed another hen's head repeatedly against a shed wall until its neck snapped.

He was given an 18-month community order on Thursday after the judge heard he had quit drink and drugs.

Maxwell, of Bentinck Terrace, Newcastle, was ordered to pay £8 compensation to the birds' owner.

At a previous hearing, Maxwell admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the birds.

Horrible crime

He was living at a hostel in Consett when he grabbed one hen from an allotment in July.

District Judge Mary Hayes told Maxwell: "It was a serious matter.

"You have got to watch that whatever happens, you control any impulses towards cruelty towards animals, which is a horrible crime, something completely defenceless."

She praised Maxwell for being drug and alcohol free and urged him to continue with his battle.

She added: "Having heard how hard you have been working at coming off drugs and coming off alcohol, there is no way I'm going to impose custody."