The trapping of wild birds is much more common than many people imagine

Tim Jones, RSPCA inspector

The 62-year-old was fined �260 and ordered to pay �200 costs after he admitted the offences at a hearing before the town's magistrates on Thursday.

The court was told how the birds were kept in cages in a corridor in appalling conditions.

RSPCA officers acted after a tip-off about the birds being kept at Glaspole's home.

Speaking after the hearing on Thursday RSCPA inspector, Tim Jones, said: "The trapping of wild birds is much more common than many people imagine.

"Garden birds and song birds are under threat from all sorts of things and people catching them from the wild just adds to their problems."

Undercover officers

The prosecution followed a joint operation investigation by RSPCA inspectors and North Wales Police.

In November last year officials seized goldfinches, bullfinches, greenfinches, other suspected wild British birds and cage traps from a premises in Wrexham.

The undercover RSPCA officers involved in the operation have said they were pleased with the result of the court action.

In a statement issued on Thursday officers said: "We are pleased that the court took the issue of catching wild birds seriously and sentenced accordingly.

"There are many reasons why people try to take wild birds from the wild, but we need to stop this cruel practice as soon as possible.

"There are enough environmental pressures on the birds in the wild already without having to have this inflicted on them as well."

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the taking of wild birds from the countryside.