Cumbrian man is jailed for vicious fowl attack

A Cumbrian man has been given a six-month prison sentence after being found guilty of torturing and killing birds at an allotment in a drug-fuelled slaughter.

Ricki Morrow, 23, stabbed and bludgeoned chickens, ducks and geese and caused more than £1,000 worth of damage at Longtown allotments in Cumbria. Many of the birds died from the shock of trying to survive the attack, while others were found with legs, wings and eyes missing.

Adrianne Harris, prosecuting, said: "The birds had been subjected to an extended period of severe suffering and pain."

Mr Morrow's father and his friend's father had allotments at the site. Mr Geoff Clapp, defending Mr Morrow, said: "My client does not remember killing the birds, but has now accepted his guilt because of what friends told him."

Mr Morrow blames his memory lapse on the excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol he consumed on the night of the attack.

The father of two, whose partner is currently expecting a third child, was given the maximum sentence possible, which is two months for each count of animal cruelty and one month for each count of criminal damage. Mr Morrow had smashed sheds, duck houses, hen houses and greenhouses in a trail of destruction.

The probation service report said Mr Morrow posed a "medium risk of serious harm to others" based on research into his type of offending. When sentencing, the presiding magistrate said: "The animals were tortured and left to die."

DEFRA and Natural England ‘will consider’ General Licence change

The UK's bird fancy may be on the brink of getting its first ever international show on UK soil, after DEFRA

responded positively to an approach by COM-UK requesting a change to the General Licence. (See News, January 18.)

Chris Smith, vice president of COM-UK and chairman of the National Council for Aviculture (NCA) recently met officials from both DEFRA and Natural England in Bristol to explore the possibility of staging an international show. And he was told they were more than happy to consider the proposal.

Mr Smith said: "It looks optimistic. This begins the discussions. The dialogue has started and although there will be lots of hurdles to jump before we get to where we want to be, we can start looking for venues and sponsors."

The key issue is the length of time birds are allowed to be kept in cages in the UK. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 limits to 72 hours the time that birds can be kept in a show cage.

COM-UK team bring home nine medals

The COM-UK team have returned from the World Show in Almeria, Spain with nine medals – five gold, one silver and three bronze.

The 60th Confédération Ornithologique Mondiale (COM) show, held on January 20-22, saw the UK team enter 142 birds from 29 exhibitors. It was the first time the team have entered the foreign section, and they were "over the moon" to win a gold medal for a native bird (a common rosefinch) and a bronze for a Bengalese finch.

COM-UK secretary and publicity officer Ghalib Al-Nasser said: "The team did much better this year, beating last year's seven medals. In previous years the COM-UK team have only shown canaries and British birds, but this year the team included foreign birds and budgies, as it is the second year that budgerigars have been accepted at the World Show."

Overall the show received an entry of 26,367 birds from 2971 exhibitors, spanning 17 countries. Louis Spiteri and John Ward won medals in the foreign section, while Roger Carr, Geoff Capes and Bernard Howlett took home gold medals for budgerigars and British birds.

Donors and sponsors join in to revive inter-club event

A Chiltern Inter-Club show will take place later this year, nearly 12 years after the original show was forced to close.

Former members have joined forces with new fanciers to reform the once-popular all-variety show, which is to take place on October 27.

Publicity and trophy steward Mick Stone explained that the original show had run for nearly 30 years and attracted about 1000 birds. He said: "The Chiltern Inter-Club was a show organised for eight clubs in the area. It competed using a points system, with the winning club taking home a trophy. It wound up in 2000 – not because the show had too few exhibits, but due to the lack of help after each show."

The idea to reform the show started when Mr Stone visited Roger Carr, one of the original organisers. Mr Stone said: "Roger and I talked over how we could seek help from the original clubs involved. We needed their help financially, so I approached five of the remaining clubs and asked if they would donate £100 each to the show."

Four clubs agreed to be involved: Chalfont St Peter CBS, Hemel Hempstead CBS, Princes Risborough & Aylesbury CBS and High Wycombe CBS. Mr Stone said the response to the show had been fantastic. "Fanciers have asked us to get it back on the calendar as they all remember what a great event it used to be," he said.

"The show is about everyone having a great time – so far the organisation has been superb."

Elected committee members are: president for 2012, Peter Warr; chairman, Roger Carr; assistant chairman, Brian Hogg; show secretary, Ian Ward; treasurer, Michelle Rogers; show manager, Robin Hurworth; publicity, cup steward, Mick Stone.

With nine months of planning still ahead, Mr Stone said things are looking great: "Chairman Peter Warr has donated rosettes and money towards cash specials, and a local country store has pledged store vouchers for some of the winning exhibitors."

The Chiltern Inter-Club show will take place on October 27, at Hazlemere Community Centre, Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Bucks.

● More information can be found at the High Wycombe CBS website (www.hwbbs.co.uk) under 'Other local clubs', or tel: 07973 785863.