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| Bird egg thief returned to jail | Bird egg thief returned to jail |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A man once described as Britain's most convicted wild egg collector has been jailed for six months. | A man once described as Britain's most convicted wild egg collector has been jailed for six months. |
| Gregory Wheal, 44, of Isambard Drive, Longford, Coventry, admitted possessing raven and peregrine falcon eggs at a previous hearing in the city. | Gregory Wheal, 44, of Isambard Drive, Longford, Coventry, admitted possessing raven and peregrine falcon eggs at a previous hearing in the city. |
| He has eight previous convictions for egg theft and this is his second prison sentence. | He has eight previous convictions for egg theft and this is his second prison sentence. |
| Magistrates did not impose an Anti-Social Behaviour Order which would stop him visiting nesting sites. | Magistrates did not impose an Anti-Social Behaviour Order which would stop him visiting nesting sites. |
| Wheal has also pleaded guilty to owning egg collection equipment. | Wheal has also pleaded guilty to owning egg collection equipment. |
| Eggs 'left over' | Eggs 'left over' |
| The court heard that Wheal, whose convictions stretch back to 1987, was arrested after four peregrine falcon eggs and six ravens' eggs were found in a bedroom at his home last June. | The court heard that Wheal, whose convictions stretch back to 1987, was arrested after four peregrine falcon eggs and six ravens' eggs were found in a bedroom at his home last June. |
| Climbing irons were also found although Wheal, who represented himself in court, said he had not used them for many years. | Climbing irons were also found although Wheal, who represented himself in court, said he had not used them for many years. |
| He also denied collecting eggs since his last conviction, although he thought the application for an Asbo was "very good". | He also denied collecting eggs since his last conviction, although he thought the application for an Asbo was "very good". |
| "I would like to say that I am very sorry for what I have done," Wheal told the court. | "I would like to say that I am very sorry for what I have done," Wheal told the court. |
| "These eggs were left over from the previous raid." | "These eggs were left over from the previous raid." |
| 'Completely obsessive' | |
| Sentencing him, chairman of the bench Richard Dawe, said he was of the opinion that custody was the only way of dealing with him. | |
| "Previous orders of the court have not stopped you reoffending and offences of this nature cause offence to a large section of society. | |
| "You were clearly aware of the law but you have shown a blatant and persistent disregard for it." | |
| Mark Thomas, investigations officer for the RSPC, said some egg collectors were "completely obsessive". | |
| "We are disappointed an Asbo has not been granted, but it won't stop us from trying to obtain one in future cases. | |
| "We just hope this will be a final straw with Mr Wheal and that he makes a decision to give up collecting eggs." | |
| Wheal was previously jailed for four months in January 2006 for similar offences. | Wheal was previously jailed for four months in January 2006 for similar offences. |