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A man has been locked up for Christmas accused of attacking a swan near Caerphilly Castle’s moat.

Scott Price, 35, was arrested after footage showed a man gripping the bird and dragging it along the path.

Price was charged with taking a wild bird and appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Monday December 18.

He denied the charge.

Price, who has no fixed abode, is charged with an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court again on January 23 to stand trial.

Brandon Ryzy, 21, filmed the attack on Sunday December 3 and appealed on Facebook for information to catch the bird attacker. He said: “Does anybody know this man in Caerphilly town?

“I was walking home from Christmas shopping and he had gripped a swan/goose by the neck and dragging it across the path saying it attacked his child, but had no child with him.”

Mr Ryzy said the bird was “flapping” and “dropped down to the floor” after being released and it “seemed to be in shock.”

He said: “I watched the man walk off and stayed with the bird to see if it could get itself back to the moat.

“It seemed quite fragile and was moving slowly.”