CCTV reveals horror as rare birds tortured to death
Dumped on the floor and being cruelly abused - these shocking images capture members of a gang who stole and tormented hundreds of rare birds.
One of the yobs can be seen smirking and then appearing to aim a kick at an innocent bird as others are scattered across the floor.
Police have released these CCTV stills of the horrific events as three men and a youth were all convicted of their involvement.
After being stolen from an aviary in Brownhills and bundled into sacks and containers, up to 200 birds were subjected to unbearable suffering.
This included being chased by a dog, jammed into drawers and squeezed to death. Some were posted through letterboxes and dropped through people's windows.
After being swiped from the home of Lee Williams in Bridge Street, Clayhanger, they were then taken to a residential block in Goscote, Walsall.
Once inside Dolphin House, Slacky Lane, they were emptied onto the landing. From there, the abuse gets under way although police believe a lot were already dead at that stage.
A resident with learning difficulties reported that a dead bird had been posted through their letterbox.
Chad Worgan, Jake Higgs, Thomas Knox and a 16-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons will be sentenced at Walsall Magistrates Court next month.
Rare bird breeder Mr Williams had built up his collection of rare jays, finches, doves, budgerigars, quails and pigeons over a number of years.
Worgan, aged 19, of Dolphin House, Goscote, admitted an offence of receiving stolen goods and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on the basis that he kicked a pigeon.
But the Crown Prosecution Service did not accept that basis, or that he didn't know birds were in the bags until they were emptied. They said he knew he was in possession of stolen property.
It was said there was a 'sick grin across his face' as he appeared to be enjoying what he was doing, appearing to grab one of the perched birds and visibly squeeze it.
The trial was told a dog was let into the flat and terrorised the birds. The animal belonged to Knox, aged 19, of Mulberry Road, Dudley Fields, Bloxwich.
Knox denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and receiving stolen goods, along with the 16-year-old from Erdington in Birmingham.
Higgs, 23, of Margam Crescent, Mossley, Bloxwich, admitted receiving stolen goods but denied causing unnecessary suffering. Magistrates found all four guilty of the charges after the trial.
Chairman of the bench, Mr Bob Thomas, said their actions amounted to 'joint enterprise'. He added CCTV showed all of them playing some part in the birds' suffering.
