
In news that could only seem at home in 2019, a prominent lawyer has caused outrage by tweeting that he had allegedly killed a fox with a baseball bat in his garden while wearing a green kimono.
Jolyon Maugham QC, who has mounted a series of legal challenges throughout the Brexit process, wrote on Twitter that the animal had become trapped in protective netting around chickens in his garden.
Already this morning I have killed a fox with a baseball bat. How's your Boxing Day going?— Jo Maugham (@Jo Maugham) 1577347856
Bizarrely, he added that he was wearing a “a too small green kimono” at the time. Maugham said he “wasn’t sure what else to do” when he discovered the animal. He wrote:
“I didn't especially enjoy killing it but I imagine that's what the RSPCA would have done, if they had anyone on call in central London on Boxing Day.”
But the RSPCA said its workers were on call 24 hours a day. On Twitter, the animal rights group even urged people to report the “distressing” incident.
@akaMrsO @JolyonMaugham @RSPCA_Frontline This is distressing to hear. We'd urge anyone with firsthand knowledge to… https://t.co/HKvcJV8gvr— RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA (England & Wales)) 1577353438
After the lawyer was met with backlash, he said that he didn’t “relish” killing the animal. He also said he’d left his details with the RSPCA.
No one should relish killing animals - and I certainly didn't. But if you haven't been up close to a large trapped… https://t.co/B5gBqPYLOO— Jo Maugham (@Jo Maugham) 1577361008
To those concerned I have broken the law, I called and spoke to the RSPCA and left my contact details.— Jo Maugham (@Jo Maugham) 1577361077
Labour MP Neil Coyle also chimed in, saying the London Borough of Southwark says that clubbing is the only legal way of killing a fox. He says several of his constituents have been in similar situations.
@RSPCA_official @akaMrsO @JolyonMaugham @RSPCA_Frontline I'd be interested to know the RSPCA view of @lb_southwark… https://t.co/YuC4btiI6j— Neil Coyle (@Neil Coyle) 1577359999
Still, many people online have been calling out the lawyer, saying it’s not right to do this even if it’s legal.
Others objected to the jovial framing of the tweet...
@JolyonMaugham Just read thread. Grim. Anyone keeping chickens should ensure the fencing is strong enough to keep t… https://t.co/OVml1E477y— Lucy Briers 💙😷 (@Lucy Briers 💙😷) 1577352067
@JolyonMaugham Eugh this is evil— Ciara McShane (@Ciara McShane) 1577359931
@JolyonMaugham Sorry to hear you have done this Jolyon. I am hugely disappointed in you and you have lost my respec… https://t.co/GrN6weFj7E— Undercover Cheshire Housewife (@Undercover Cheshire Housewife) 1577348413