A rare birds expert smuggled nine endangered parrots worth �50,000 each into the UK and illegally sold them, a court has been told.

Harry Sissen, 61, allegedly smuggled the birds into the country from dealers in Yugoslavia and the Czech Republic in 1997.

Mr Sissen, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, appeared in Newcastle Crown Court charged with four counts of smuggling and two counts of illegally selling rare birds.

Prosecutor Simon Draycott said Mr Sissen had imported three Lears macaws, of which there are only 180 left in the world, without the necessary documentation.

Mr Draycott said Customs and Excise officials searched Mr Sissen's farm in 1998 and found the Lears macaws and six blue-headed macaws.

On further investigation they said they discovered he had illegally sold two other rare parrots.

"This case in essence involves the smuggling of rare parrots into this country by the defendant," Mr Draycott said.

"Pound for pound a very rare parrot is worth more to a smuggler than heroin."

The court heard that shortly after the visit to Mr Sissen's farm by Customs and Excise officials he visited his local MP William Hague.

Hague visit

Mr Draycott said: "Sissen spoke to Mr Hague to complain about the conduct of Customs and Excise.

"He insisted to Mr Hague that he was not guilty of smuggling birds but in the past he admitted he had smuggled three birds from Yugoslavia without the appropriate paperwork.

"He was advised to contact HM Customs and Excise, which he never did.

"Present at this occasion were the Right Honourable William Hague and his private secretary. In the course of this trial the prosecution will call both of these people."

Mr Draycott said of Mr Sissen: "He's fully aware of the rules and regulations. We are not dealing with someone who has suddenly started a parrot farm and has innocently fallen into the world of bureaucracy.

"The prosecution say he knew exactly what he was doing."

Mr Sisson has pleaded not guilty to all the charges in a case scheduled to last three weeks.

The case was adjourned until Friday.