Hartlepool ‘Bird Man’ Brian Wilkins Back in Court Over Two Further CBO Breach Charges...
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More Court Trouble for Hartlepool ‘Bird Man’ as the CPS Brings Two New Charges...
Hartlepool’s “Bird Man” Brian Wilkins has today appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with two further counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, as the long-running legal battle surrounding his feeding of wildlife continues.
Wilkins appeared before Teesside Magistrates Court on Monday, 17th of August, in connection with the latest allegations against him where the Crown prosecution Service has brought two further charges against Mr Wilkins of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.
The latest charges represent a separate set of criminal proceedings from those already taking place before Teesside Crown Court, where Wilkins is due to face a jury trial over an earlier alleged breach of the same order.
That earlier case began after Wilkins appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on the 29th May accused of breaching the order back in February 2026. It's alleged that he was seen on CCTV in Green Street, Hartlepool, dropping food from bags onto a path and grassed areas.
Wilkins pleaded not guilty to that allegation and elected to have the matter heard before a jury, resulting in the case being sent to the Crown Court.
The two latest charges are not additional counts forming part of that existing Crown Court trial, but separate allegations which have now brought the pensioner back before the Magistrates’ Court.
Long-running wildlife feeding dispute
The criminal proceedings stem from the extraordinary and increasingly high-profile dispute surrounding Wilkins’ practice of feeding birds and other wildlife around Hartlepool.
The pensioner was convicted back in April 2025 for breaching a Community Protection Notice following proceedings brought by Hartlepool Borough Council. The court subsequently imposed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order restricting him from leaving food in public spaces or other accessible areas in Hartlepool because of concerns that the practice was attracting vermin. The court order followed years of controversy surrounding Wilkins’ habit of distributing bread and other food for pigeons, seagulls and other animals around the town, with the case attracting attention far beyond Hartlepool, with Wilkins becoming widely known as the town’s “Bird Man” and his prosecution generating both national and international media coverage.
His supporters have previously questioned both the proportionality of the action as well as the public money being spent pursuing the pensioner through the courts, while Hartlepool Borough Council's maintained that enforcement action against Mr Wilkins took place following complaints and concerns over the impact that large quantities of food could have on local areas and the attraction of vermin.
Now facing proceedings in two courts
The latest development means Wilkins is now facing legal proceedings arising from multiple alleged breaches of the CBO, with one case already progressing through the Crown Court while the two newest allegations have started separately in the Magistrates’ Court marking a significant escalation in what's become one of Hartlepool’s most unusual and controversial enforcement disputes.
