A MAN who committed his first burglary at the age of 15 has been caged for stealing two valuable African Grey parrots.

The parrots – ‘Missy’ and ‘Snoop Dogg’ - which were worth up to a thousand pounds each were the subject of a police appeal after they were taken from heartbroken owner Joanna Mason’s Middlesbrough home last September.

Richard Smith, who was identified from blood left on a smashed window, was arrested and subsequently charged by police.

The Northern Echo:

Caged: Parrot thief Richard Smith

The 20-year-old father-of-two admitted burglary – his fourth such conviction – and was sentenced to two years, five months at Teesside Crown Court by Judge Simon Phillips.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Smith knew the victim through a family association and targeted the parrots knowing they were valuable.

Prosecuting, Rachel Masters said the parrots’ owner had gone away for a few days and when she returned found a kitchen window had been smashed to gain entry. A metal cage housing the parrots lay empty on the floor.

Police used DNA techniques to identify Smith, who told officers one of the parrots had escaped during the raid and the other, he had intended to sell for £300.

Ms Masters said: “The parrots were later returned. One was found in the street and one was returned by somebody who did not wish to be named.”

The prosecutor said Ms Mason had felt violated by the burglary, but was “over the moon” at the safe return of Missy and Snoop Dogg.

Smith, of Ashfield Avenue, Middlesbrough, who has 16 convictions for 26 criminal offences, had received 18 months detention in youth custody following his last burglary.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said Smith had not been thinking straight on the night of the burglary due to elicit drugs he was taking and now expressed remorse and regret.

He said a probation service report identified Smith as being immature and easily led by his peers.

Judge Phillips said Smith, who had accepted unpaid work in a convenience store, had the potential to make something of himself but after making some progress his behaviour had lapsed back again.

He told him: “You effectively arranged this burglary and contacted an accomplice to help.

“This was done for greed and money.”