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Monmouth pigeon fancier fined for offensive message
2:20pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
A MONMOUTH pigeon racer was fined for placing an offensive sign in his garden.
Leslie Moses, 52, of Garthi Close, Mitchel Troy, pleaded guilty at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court to displaying a sign which was threatening, abusive or insulting.
The court heard Moses had put up a sign on August 2 which carried an offensive message.
Prosecutor Paul Latner said a neighbour reported the sign to the police, thought it was directed at him and found it offensive.
Mr Latner said other witnesses, including a Monmouthshire Housing Association officer, also found it offensive.
The sign was removed the next day.
Prior to the incident there had been a dispute between Moses and the neighbour after he had objected to Moses letting off rocket fireworks to scare off birds of prey.
Stuart Macdonald, for Moses, said the neighbour moved to the cul-desac in November 2010 and Moses had been living at his property for some time.
He said Moses had 32 pigeons which he kept at his home and used around 16 of them for competition purposes between July and August.
He told the court that when birds of prey, particularly peregrine falcons, were occasionally in the area and looking like they were going to attack his pigeons he released a rocket but did not make a habit of it.
The court heard how Moses, a licensed shotgun holder, had also used that on occasion to scare a bird of prey.
Mr Macdonald said a woman owned a substantial property and grounds at the back of Moses’ property and allowed him to build a pigeon loft on her ground.
The court heard Moses had let off rockets for eight years and had never previously had a complaint, but problems had escalated since this neighbour’s arrival.
Mr Macdonald said that on several occasions the neighbour had taken exception to the noise.
He said complaints had been made by Moses to Monmouthshire Housing Association and complaints had been made about him. He said other incidents were being investigated.
Mr Macdonald said an antisocial behaviour notice had previously been served on Moses and that he became frustrated.
He said: “He knows and can’t get away from the fact that what he did that day was stupid.”
He called it a one-off and said Moses described it as a “protest sign” and that it was not meant to be offensive to anyone in the cul-de-sac.
Moses was fined £100 which was reduced to £90 because of his guilty plea.
He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Monmouthshire Housing Association did not want to comment after the hearing.