A MAN who illegally kept live wild birds in cages at his home has been given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

George Spurs, 52, of Sunnybrow, Silksworth, Sunderland, admitted four offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act after appearing at the city's magistrates court.

The court heard how police and RSPCA officials had raided an outbuilding at his home in February last year, where they discovered 15 birds, including three bramblings, a protected species native to Norway, but which winters in Britain.

Eight siskins, three yellow-hammers and a chaffinch were also found in the raid.

Some of the birds had suffered injuries to their tail wings and feathers.

Spurs, who claimed he bought the birds from disreputable dealers operating at bird fairs, had attached to their legs rings ordinarily used by breeders of captive birds to legally buy and sell them.

He said the injuries were as a result of the birds banging into their cages after they were bothered by a sparrowhawk and a neighbour's cat.

Magistrates said Spurs would be disqualified from keeping British songbirds for five years.

RSPCA Inspector Sue Craig said such illegal activities posed a "very real threat" to the wild bird population.

She said: "These birds were cruelly kept in captivity when they should have been free.

"Wild birds are a beautiful part of our countryside and that is where they belong."