Treasured bird of prey stolen from Padiham home (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Treasured bird of prey stolen from Padiham home

4:05pm Wednesday 13th August 2008 in

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A MAN has told how his prized bird of prey was stolen from his garden shed as he slept.

Guy Williams, 28, awoke to find one-year-old Harris hawk Tidus had been taken, along with his perch, from the garden of his home in Green Street, Padiham.

Dad-of-two Mr Williams had owned the bird, worth £300, for nine months – and says he has been left angry and devastated by the theft.

He said: “When I discovered the theft, I felt ten times worse than the kid in Kes.”

In the popular novel and film Kes, a young boy called Billy Casper befriends a kestrel called Kes, who is killed by his abusive brother Jed.

Mr Williams said: “I woke up in the morning ready for work and I came downstairs and noticed the aviary door was open in the back garden.

“Then I went outside and saw the padlock broken, the door swinging off its hinges, and the bird gone.

“I came back inside and started crying. Words cannot describe how I felt because I had looked after him from him being 12 weeks old.”

Mr Williams, who works as an engineer in Nelson, said the bird was a “star”, and could even be brought out of his aviary so partner Emma, 25, daughter Alexia, five, and 18-month-old son, Anthony, could look at him.

He added: “He was an absolute star and a trooper.

“What other bird of prey would you bring into the house with kids and expect it to sit on a kitchen cabinet?

“My daughter is really upset because I even took Tidus into her school, Padiham Green CE Primary, and did a display.”

Mr Williams said police were looking into a possible sighting of the bird in the Hapton area, following the theft between 11pm on Sunday and 8.45am on Monday.

“I am hopeful of getting him back,” he said. “I will definitely get him back.”

Sergeant Phil Carter said police were investigating and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Burnley Police on 01282 425001, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.