Further Charge for Hartlepool ‘Bird Man’ as Wildlife-Feeding Row Escalates..
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New court papers allege a second incident involving breadcrumbs as pensioner prepares to appear before a Crown Court jury..
7th June 2026
A Hartlepool pensioner known locally as the town’s “Bird Man” is set to face a further alleged breach of his Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting him from feeding wildlife, raising claims that a custodial sentence if the allegations are proven is likely to be inevitable...
Brian Wilkins has been served with a new postal requisition from Cleveland Police this week, this time requiring him to appear before Teesside Magistrates’ Court in Middlesbrough on Monday the 17th of August 2026.
The court papers, seen exclusively by the Teesside & Durham Post, lists two alleged breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed by Teesside Magistrates’ Court on the 1st of April 2025.
The first allegation states that Mr Wilkins dropped breadcrumbs in Hartlepool on 21 February 2026 despite being prohibited from doing so by the order
However, the newly issued court papers now also include a further alleged incident said to have occurred on the 14th of April 2026, where Mr Wilkins is again accused of dropping breadcrumbs in Hartlepool without a reasonable excuse.
Wilkins has not been convicted of either allegation contained within the latest requisition, and the allegations remain to be determined by the courts.
The Teesside & Durham Post previously reported that Mr Wilkins pleaded not guilty when he appeared before magistrates on the 29th May this year over an alleged breach of the same Criminal Behaviour Order. He elected for the case to be heard before a jury and was granted unconditional bail ahead of a hearing at Teesside Crown Court on 29 June. However, the emergence of an additional alleged incident could substantially increase the seriousness of the case if it is proven in court, with Prosecutors set to argue that repeated breaches demonstrate a continuing refusal to comply with the order..
A breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order is an offence under section 339 of the Sentencing Act 2020. The Sentencing Council states that the offence can be dealt with as an either way offence, meaning either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. While magistrates can impose a maximum sentence of six months’ custody, the maximum sentence available for the offence in the Crown Court is five years.
The sentencing guidelines make clear that the outcome depends on the circumstances of each case, including whether a breach is considered minor, deliberate or persistent, as well as the level of harm or distress caused. Possible outcomes range from a fine or community order to a custodial sentence.
Locals Split Down the Middle Over the Case
Mr Wilkins’ case has already attracted widespread attention and divided opinion across Hartlepool & further beyond, with his story even reaching readers in the United States, with supporters arguing that the pensioner is motivated by his concern for birds and other wildlife and believe that both Hartlepool Borough Council & Cleveland Police are taking a heavy-handed approach. Others, however, say that the repeated scattering of food in public areas has contributed to problems involving vermin and has caused huge disruption for nearby residents and businesses.
The latest court papers are likely to reignite the wider debate over whether criminal proceedings are a proportionate response to the feeding of wildlife — or whether the alleged repeated breaches of a court order have now left the so called 'authorities' with little alternative but to pursue the matter further.
What do You Think ?
Should Hartlepool's 'Birdman' be facing Prosecution for Feeding Wildlife ?
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