Only in England
(From this morning's Times in London)
After a surreal echo of a Monty Python sketch, police yesterday agreed to pay compensation to a parrot breeder. Michael Liddel-Taylor said that a raid had left 15 of his prize parrots as ex-parrots.
After the raid, Mr. Liddel-Taylor, 53, took one of his deceased birds to his local police station, placed it on the counter in the manner of John Cleese confronting the pet shop owner, and told the officer on duty that he wished to report a murder.
His claim for compensation was settled by agreement before it could be heard at Norwhich Crown Court. The raid at Beeston, Norfolk, was on the trail of a rare blue and gold macaw from Kilverstone wildlife park in Suffolk. They found a macaw in the parrot park, and Mr. Liddel-Taylor was arrested.
He was able to prove, however, that he was the macaw's rightful owner. Unfortunately, when an officer tapped on the cage to make the bird turn round, it fell of its perch and died of shock. The search was also said to have spread macaw wasting disease to many previously healthy parrots. Since the raid Mr. Liddle-Taylor has abandoned parrot breeding and has moved to Bury St. Edmunds. He said yesterday that he planned a future in the film industry. |
