Jail wipes smile off Walsall bird torturer's face

Thomas Knox was part of a gang of four who squeezed, kicked and beat the birds before posting them through letterboxes and dropping them through people's windows.

They were captured on security cameras arriving in a block of flats in Goscote in Walsall with bulging bags and boxes containing the birds they stole from a life-long collector's aviary.

At Walsall Magistrates' Court yesterday, chairman of the bench, Mr Bob Thomas, described the case as the 'most disturbing I have ever had the misfortune to sit in'.

Knox, aged 19, appeared via video link to be sentenced for his part in the crime, which took place on January 9, following a trial.

Co-accused Jake Higgs, aged 23, of Margam Crescent, Mossley, was also due to learn his fate at the court yesterday but failed to show up for the hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The birds were stolen from Lee Williams' aviary.

They were bundled into sacks and containers, with only one finch left alive and another dead at Mr Williams' property in Bridge Street, Clayhanger, near Brownhills.

Mr Williams, a rare-bird breeder, had spent his whole life collecting the rare jays, finches, budgerigars, doves, quails and pigeons.

Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, told the court that he had been left 'devastated' by the ordeal.

She said it would cost £1,500 to replace the birds, adding: "He cannot afford to replace the birds and he cannot claim on the insurance."

Knox, of Mulberry Road, Dudley Fields, Bloxwich, had been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, receiving stolen goods, common assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

The court heard that the latter charges related to his behaviour towards a dog warden and housing staff when he was told his dog was going to be taken away.

It is believed the gang let the dog loose into a flat where it terrorised the birds.

Mr Vaughn Whistance, mitigating, said Knox was a vulnerable young man who suffered with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

He said: "He has been greatly influenced by the behaviour of others."

He said it was clear from the CCTV evidence that Knox distanced himself from the animals once they were released on the landing of Dolphin House.

The court was told he had previously been seen entering Dolphin House carrying sacks containing birds that were dead and alive.

Chairman of the bench, Mr Bob Thomas, told Knox he had spent much of the trial giggling with his co-accused.

He said: "The animals must have suffered significant distress.

"Your trial was one of the most disturbing I have ever had the misfortune to sit in."

Knox was jailed for six months for causing unnecessary suffering to the birds and handed a six week concurrent prison term for receiving stolen goods.

There was no separate penalty for the other two charges.

Knox was also ordered to pay £350 compensation and £80 victim surcharge.

Co-accused Chad Worgan, aged 19, of Dolphin House, Goscote, was locked up for six months last week for his role in the act of animal cruelty and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given an 18-month rehabilitation order.

The four were arrested after the unfolding incident was spotted on CCTV.