Grandfather ordered to pay £2k for feeding birds by 'killjoy council'

Brian Wilkins, 76, known as the 'Bird Man of Hartlepool,' has been fined over £2,000 after he was blamed for the town's vermin problem due to feeding birds.

Despite being banned from certain areas, Wilkins continued scattering bread and bird seed, leading to complaints about rats from local businesses.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay £1,826 in costs for ignoring advice to stop.

His daughter, Paula Allison, defended him, stating he was just trying to help the birds and that the rats had been present long before his actions.