A pensioner who regularly feeds the local wildlife has been fined £2,000 by his local council after he was blamed for causing a rat infestation.
Brian Wilkins, 76, dubbed the “Bird Man of Hartlepool”, was taken to court by the borough council after he failed to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN).
The CPN was issued to him in 2023 after the 77-year-old repeatedly scattered bread, seed and cat food around his area in order to feed the local wildlife.
The notice prohibited him from leaving food out for the animals, after residents complained that there was an increased number of rat infestations that were “out of control”.
The CPN was issued to him in 2023 after the 77-year-old repeatedly scattered bread, seed and cat food around Hartlepool (file pics)
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However, he continued with his favourite hobby, though his daughter, Paula, claims that Wilkins avoided the areas he was banned from.
On Tuesday, he was found guilty of not complying with the notice at Teesside Magistrates' Court and given Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which could result in a custodial sentence if breached.
He was also fined £250 and also ordered him to pay the council’s costs of £1,826.
The court heard Wilkins threw down “excessive amounts” of bird seed and food from a trolley around parts of the town.
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On Tuesday, he was found guilty of not complying with the notice at Teesside Magistrates' Court
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Businesses in the area said that they had witnessed an increase in rats as a result of the scattered feed.
Alyson McCall, from Middleton Grange, said in a statement: “The problem has exacerbated so much that we’ve had to increase our pest control visits as the vermin was getting out of control with them finding their way into the centre.”
Representing himself in court, the 77-year-old claimed he did not comply with the CPN in order to ease “the suffering of starving creatures”, who he said would die if they did not receive food.
His daughter said that all he spent his pension on was bread, buying 30 loaves a day.
Wilkins has said he would now stop feeding the wildlife
PAPaula said: “He's overjoyed to see them enjoying the food... It's more of a commitment than an enjoyment.
“He used to work but now he doesn't have a car. He's restricted. As he's gotten older, he's had nothing else to do.
"He used to go dancing but now he's got out of society, practically. I don't know how many years he's been doing this for.
"They are trying to say my dad's the cause of rats, but that's rubbish - they have been around for ages.”
Outside court, Wilkins said he believed “common sense has not prevailed”, though said he would now stop feeding the wildlife.
