Life ban for man who mistreated two wild birds

A man found guilty of mistreating two injured wild birds has been given a lifetime ban on keeping wildlife.

Lee Jefferson, 30, from Malton, was found by an RSPCA inspector to be keeping a jackdaw with a damaged foot and a pigeon with a broken wing in a pen at his home.

Both birds had suffered the effects of marijuana, with the jackdaw found with a bell around its neck and its claws painted with nail polish and the pigeon found with a wing wrapped in gaffer tape, the court heard.

Jefferson was given an 18-month community order and ordered to pay £194 towards the costs of the case having admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

The court heard the birds had been seen by RSPCA Inspector Laura Barber during a visit to Jefferson's home in Scarborough for an unrelated matter in June 2024.

She told the court Jefferson claimed to have found both birds injured, but had not sought veterinary treatment for either.

The court was told on 2 June that Jefferson had been treating the jackdaw with an immune protection vitamin paste, later identified as a paste used to treat cats.

It was described by Insp Barber as appearing "quiet, withdrawn and lethargic".

When vets later examined it they found it had a dislocated toe, with "sparkly glittery nail polish" painted on each of its claws.

The vet added: "Marijuana toxicity could explain the lethargic, glazed demeanour of this bird in an environment that would usually cause panic."

The bird was treated for dehydration before being transported to an RSPCA wildlife centre.

An RSPCA spokesperson said the wood pigeon had been put down as a result of the damage caused by "inappropriate use of the grey gaffer tape".

Insp Barber added: "Keeping these injured wild birds was unlawful.

"Whatever the intentions towards the birds, this was not an appropriate way to treat them."

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