Budgie 'assassinated by rival breeder'

One of Britain's top budgerigar breeders returned home to find his champion bird had been stamped on and 21 others stolen in a suspected attack by a rival. Andrew Pooley, 58, believes his collection of prize birds deliberately sabotaged the night before a top show.

He had left his home for just a few hours when he returned to find his aviary had been broken into and 21 of his prize budgies – worth £2,000 – stolen. The attacker had also stamped on and killed Penmead Pride – his best of breed champion. The killing happened the night before the Cornwall Budgerigar Show – where Penmead Pride was crowned champ last year.



Mr Pooley, of Delabole, Cornwall, had been due to take part in the event but was forced to withdraw because of the loss of his birds. Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the crime and say they believe the culprit is from ''the bird keeping community''.

Mr Poooley, secretary of the Caged Bird Society, said: ''I feel terrible. It has been my life's work and Penmead Pride was my first registered champion. I can't believe it. Whoever took them knew what they were doing because they have taken the best of the best. It must have been someone who wanted me out of the show. The person that did this knew which birds to take and then had the gall to kill my pride and joy. This was a deliberate act of sabotage.''