US man jailed for six months after 'depraved' fork attack on ex-girlfriend's parrot

Man didn't remember what happened and claimed he may have mixed anti-anxiety medication with whisky and slipped into a blacked-out rage

Police alleged that Richard J. Atkinson, 63, was alone at the couple's home in Everett, Washington, when he trashed the house and killed the bird with a serving fork. (GETTY IMAGES)

A man has been sentenced to six months in jail after he stabbed his ex-girlfriend's parrot to death with a fork.

Police alleged that Richard J. Atkinson, 63, was alone at the couple's home in Everett, Washington, when he trashed the house and killed the bird with a serving fork.

Mr Atkinson pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and domestic-violence malicious mischief.

He was sentenced to six months at Snohomish County Superior Court on Tuesday.

In court, Atkinson's defense attorney William Steffener, said his client didn't remember what happened and claimed he may have mixed anti-anxiety medication with whisky and slipped into a blacked-out rage.

The court ordered the accused to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He also has to pay his ex-girlfriend for the parrot and destroyed belongings; he is also not allowed to own any animals for five years.

The judge said Atkinson's crime was 'depraved' and 'hideous and barbaric', and said he hoped that treatment combined with time in jail would stop Atkinson from ever hurting an animal again.