Home Australia Judge unleashes on alleged serial bird abductor as he’s warned to stay away from ALL animals

Judge unleashes on alleged serial bird abductor as he’s warned to stay away from ALL animals

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Tom Quach (pictured) served prison time for animal cruelty and was warned to stay away from all native birds.

A man with a history of bird abduction has been sternly warned by a magistrate to stay away from all animals as he faces further cruelty allegations.

Tom Quach previously admitted capturing a white ibis and taking it to his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with the intention of eating it.

The 61-year-old was arrested again on Saturday after allegedly kidnapping two white corellas, another native species, with fishing line and bread.

He was charged with one count of animal cruelty and one count of attempting to harm a protected animal.

Police allege the distressed animals were found in an animal carrier at Quach’s home, but he claimed he only intended to help them after finding the birds were already tangled in wire.

When he appeared at Waverley Local Court on Monday, Quach was granted bail on conditions including not interacting with any animals.

Magistrate Stephen Barlow warned Quach that if he was found with any animals in his possession he could be sent back to prison.

“Stay away from animals,” the magistrate said.

Tom Quach (pictured) previously admitted capturing a white ibis and taking it to his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with the intention of eating it.

The 61-year-old man was arrested again on Saturday after allegedly kidnapping two white corellas, another native species, with fishing line and bread.

The 61-year-old man was arrested again on Saturday after allegedly kidnapping two white corellas, another native species, with fishing line and bread.

“Don’t go near animals, especially birds.”

Quach’s legal aid lawyer, Kris O’Brien, pleaded not guilty on behalf of the 61-year-old and said his client maintained he was trying to help and not harm the birds.

“This is Mr. Quach’s position… when he encountered these birds… two of them were already entwined with fishing line,” he said.

“He tried to calm them down and at first he couldn’t do it.

“It was his decision that it was best for him to take the birds to his house to remove the fishing line.”

A distraught passer-by spotted Quach and began filming him, but only after the birds were already entangled, the court heard.

Prosecutors opposed granting him bail, arguing that he was at significant risk of reoffending if released.

Barlow described the allegations against Quach as “very unusual.”

Quach previously pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty in connection with the ibis, as well as theft and drug possession.

Court documents related to that matter say he told police he enjoyed hunting ibis while high on methamphetamine, before cooking and eating the native birds.

He claimed to be confused about whether the species, commonly known as trash chickens, could be legally caught and eaten in New South Wales.

For those offences, Quach was jailed for six months and fined a total of $800 for three counts of animal cruelty and one count of drug possession.

The latest matter will return to court on February 17.

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