Owner breaks cockerel court order

Mr Williamson admitted breaching a court order on the cockerel

The owner of an Asbo-threatened cockerel has admitted failing to comply with a court order designed to curtail its early morning crowing.

Kenneth Williamson, 60, of Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, appeared at the town's Justice of the Peace Court.

His five-year-old cockerel Charlie was handed a night time curfew last year in a deal drawn up with neighbours.

However, a lightproof shed for the bird was not put on the agreed site. Sentence was deferred until September.

Last November a deal was struck with neighbours who complained about Charlie's constant crowing early in the morning.

Court action

The arrangement was that the bird and other animals such as geese would be kept in a lightproof shed during specified hours at night time.

The building was supposed to be sited on land owned by Mr Williamson away from a neighbouring bed and breakfast establishment which had complained about the noise.

Instead, it was placed in his back garden and therefore breached the Civic Government (Scotland) Act.

Last year Scottish Borders Council applied to Selkirk Sheriff Court for an anti-social behaviour order on the bird.

It suspended that move after neighbours raised their action at the Justice of the Peace Court.

Mr Williamson will be sentenced on 4 September.