Machete-Wielding Parakeet Snatcher Caught Up Park Tree

Up Before The Beak: Jesurajah

A machete-wielding dad-of-four was caught by police hacking his way to a parakeet nest and snatching four baby birds for his children.

Food factory worker Jenistopher Jesurajah, 42, claims the youngsters were thrilled by the bright green birds in Wembley's Barham Park during a family day-out.

Sri Lankan Jesurajah, of Pleasant Way, Wembley went home for the knife before scaling the tree to slash through the foliage and reach the protected nest.

He pleaded guilty at Hendon Magistrates Court last week to intentionally taking the wild birds, contrary to the wildlife and Countryside Act, on May 1.

He also pleaded guilty to damaging or destroying a wild bird nest and possessing a blade.

Jesurajah was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 160 hours community service work, plus £85 costs and a £100 contribution towards the birds welfare.

Prosecutor Miss Indira Gohlar told the court: "Police were called just before 8pm to a report of a man hacking at a tree with a meat cleaver.

"He was seen up the tree hacking a hole and a large amount of branches and debris were falling to the ground.

"He was asked by the police officers to come down and after first trying to hide the machete he dropped it.

"He was holding two baby parakeets and in his pocket two further parakeets were found.

"They were all very small and were taken to a local vet and are now at a wildlife centre, where they will stay until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild.

"He told the police he was from Sri Lanka and had been in the UK for twelve years and lives with his wife and four children.

"They had all been in the park earlier in the day when the family noticed the birds and he decided that he wanted them.

"He returned with the meat cleaver and hacked a hole in the tree and took the birds to keep them as pets even though he had nowhere to keep them or nurture them or any cages. 

"He said he did not know it was illegal to take wild birds and during his interview police officers noticed he was visibly upset and remorseful."

First-time offender Jesurajah, who had a Tamil interpreter, told the court it was not illegal in Sri Lanka to take and keep wild birds.

Magistrate Mrs Joy Kay told Jesurajah, who could have received six months imprisonment for taking the birds: "We protect our birds very carefully in this country.

"They cannot be removed from their natural habitat and you cannot go around in public with a machete."