Feathers fly as crook caught on bicycle with bag full of stolen pigeons

They were both on bikes and each was carrying a full pillow case when spotted by the officers who were out on patrol at 3am on January 26 last year.

The pair dropped their bags in Darlaston Lane, Darlaston and split up in a bid to escape after realising they had been seen, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

"The police officers were amazed when a flock of pigeons flew up into the air from the discarded pillow cases," said Mr David Iles, prosecuting.

The officers gave chase but only caught one of the crooks, 32-year-old Paul Dunn who had just stolen 40 homing birds from sheds in the garden of a house in Willenhall. The other culprit has not been traced.

Dunn, of Ryecroft, Walsall, who had also stolen the gold-coloured bike he was riding from the address, is now serving nine months in jail.

Mr Iles said: "Unfortunately one of the pigeons was run over and killed after escaping from the pillow case. Others proved they were homing pigeons by returning to their loft but several are still missing.

"Twenty birds remained in the pillow cases from which they were collected by the police."

Father-of-one Dunn had several previous convictions for burglary.

Mr Benjamin Close, defending, said: "He feels that he has turned a bit of a corner in his life which is why he is so unhappy at having committed this offence."

The defendant admitted burglary of a building and was given a nine-month prison sentence by Recorder Stephen Thomas.

Mr Thomas said: "Presumably these pigeons were not for the pot but were intended for onward sale and so there was an element of pre planning.

"Pigeons may seem humorous items to steal but this kind of crime could represent a substantial loss to somebody who has nurtured the birds. That kind of loss must not be under estimated."

Five hours after the birds had been recovered the owner woke to discover the theft from the sheds in his back garden and reported it to police who were able to return the stolen bike and pigeons they had recovered.

The stolen birds were estimated to be valued at £15 each but could have been worth much more.