CONVICTED (2023) | Alan Mee, born 15 November 1961, of of 63, Larch Avenue, Newton-le-Willows WA12 8JF – took tawny owls from the wild and kept them in filthy cages. Alan Mee Alan Mee was fined and disqualified from keeping birds after officers from Cheshire Police seized wild owls that were being kept in unsuitable conditions at his home. Mee pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal, and two counts of possessing a wild bird. The tawny owls had no access to fresh water, an adequate enclosure size, or a clean food ledge. On 20 June, 2022, Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, Merseyside Police, RSPCA, and Natural England executed a warrant as a result of information relating to wild birds in the Cheshire area. Cheshire Police led on the warrant at Mee’s address where three tawny owls were located, two of which were suspected to have been taken from the wild. All three owls were seized due to the conditions they were being kept in, which included having dirty water, no feeding area, and the aviary being too small. Sentencing | fine and court costs to the value of £823. Disqualified from keeping birds for five years (expires July 2028). Manchester Evening News BBC News