'Bird man' faces jail if he feeds pigeons

A man has been warned he faces being jailed if he continues to feed pigeons in a town centre, after he caused rat infestations.

Brian Wilkins, 77, known to some as "the bird man", was convicted of breaching an order preventing him from leaving out food for wildlife in Hartlepool.

The council had served him with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) in 2023, which he was found guilty of flouting on a number of occasions after videos showed him scattering bread, seed and cat food with pigeons and seagulls around him.

The authority said Wilkins' "failure to co-operate" had left the council with "no other option" but to take legal action.

Wilkins was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at Teesside Magistrates' Court, prohibiting him from leaving out food for wildlife, a breach of which could result in a custodial sentence.

He was also ordered to pay a £250 fine, £1826.73 in costs and a £100 surcharge.

Representing himself in court on Tuesday, Wilkins claimed he did not comply with the CPN in order to ease "the suffering of starving creatures" and told magistrates he had spent his life savings feeding wildlife.

The court heard a string of complaints from residents and businesses about increased numbers of rat infestations, which were described as being "out of control".

Hartlepool Borough Council's pest control services said the pensioner's actions had hindered and undermined its efforts to control rat populations in several locations, including a primary school.

The council said the issue had "a detrimental effect on the quality of life of residents".

Wilkins claimed rat infestations were not a result of his actions but instead due to their habitats being destroyed, and told the court "the poor creatures have nowhere to go".

A supporter who attended the hearing was heard shouting "we are with you Bri" and clapping from the gallery.

Wilkins, of Sheriff Street, was ordered to pay £2,176.73 in total.

The council said it had wanted to resolve the situation informally.

"Although legal action is very much a last resort, his failure to co-operate has left us with no other option," a spokesperson said.

"We have a duty to safeguard public health in the wider community and Mr Wilkins' continued actions have led to numerous recurring complaints about rats from businesses and individual residents."

Outside court, Wilkins said he believed "common sense has not prevailed" but said he would now stop feeding pigeons and other wildlife.