A drug-affected Dubbo man who violently attacked an injured emu and sparked outrage across Australia has narrowly avoided time behind bars.
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Jye Leslie Schultz was convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to 300 hours of community service when he faced Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.
The 20-year-old man was also banned from drinking alcohol and taking drugs for 18 months, as part of conditions attached to a community corrections order imposed by Magistrate Gary Wilson.
"He is genuinely remorseful... this was an isolated incident," barrister Matthew McAuliffe said at Schultz's sentencing hearing.
"He's already learned a very sharp lesson...this is clearly youthful stupidity," Mr McAuliffe told the court after he revealed Schultz was on drugs when he attacked the emu.
According to court documents, Schultz came across an emu trapped in a wire fence between Quambone and Warren on June 11.
Friends who were with Schultz giggled loudly as they filmed him ripping feathers off the distressed emu's back, before he attempted to mount and ride the animal. After the now viral video ended, Schultz admitted he cut the emu's throat because it had a broken leg.
In court it emerged Schultz previously volunteered at a zoo and wildlife sanctuary. He was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), no longer used illicit drugs and was being treated by a psychiatrist, the court heard.
Magistrate Wilson said "that's what drugs do" before he slammed Schultz's "extremely disturbing" behaviour.
The magistrate said Schultz's lack of a criminal record, full-time employment and character references meant there was "some hope" he would not re-offend.