Wild bird case involving Hertfordshire man closes
A final man has been found guilty
17 men were found guilty for an illegal wild bird meet-up which took place two years ago in Leytonstone, East London.
The last man part involved the investigation and part of the group is from Southend-on-sea was convicted at the hearing which took place yesterday (16 August).
One of the men found guilty in 2020 is from Hertfordshire for one offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. He was ordered to pay a ÂŁ75 fine, ÂŁ150 costs and a ÂŁ30 victim surcharge.
Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit raided the site two years ago where the men tried to flee from the scene by jumping onto the roof.
RSPCA officers joined the Metropolitan Police to execute warrants across several properties in February 2019.
Four separate warrants took place and 270 birds were seized, making it one of the biggest seizures for wild birds ever in the UK.
Detective Constable Tara Wilson of the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit said:
"This was a lengthy, proactive joint investigation between the Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPCA, which resulted in the largest ever seizure of wild captive British birds."
The issue has been ongoing for the wild birds in the UK.
RSPCA SOU chief inspector Will Mitchell said: “The illegal trapping and trading in wild birds has long been a problem.”
“Taking a wild bird from its natural habitat and shutting it in a tiny cage is cruel. These birds can suffer immeasurably, not only physically but also mentally, and they often die shortly after being captured.”