A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man found guilty of trapping wild birds.

John Tams - also known as John Dugdale - was found guilty in his absence of ten charges of possessing three wild birds and bird trapping equipment, on November 12.

When RSPCA inspectors raided his former home in Byers Green, near Spennymoor, they found what they described as the most complete bird-trapping kit they had ever encountered.

Tams, of The Avenue, Coxhoe, near Durham City, failed to attend Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court for sentencing yesterday, and had failed to attend any of the previous seven hearings. Magistrates decided to issue a warrant for his arrest to force him to appear in court before being sentenced.