AN ESSEX couple who kept rare birds of prey in filthy conditions resembling “the Black Hole of Calcutta” have received suspended jail sentences.Alan and Jacqueline Cleave had nearly 40 birds in cramped conditions in an aviary in their back garden when it was raided by RSPCA officers earlier this year.

AN ESSEX couple who kept rare birds of prey in filthy conditions resembling “the Black Hole of Calcutta” have received suspended jail sentences.

Alan and Jacqueline Cleave had nearly 40 birds in cramped conditions in an aviary in their back garden when it was raided by RSPCA officers earlier this year.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard Mr Cleave, 40, simply did not know when to stop taking more birds, acquiring more and more in “almost an addictive manner”.

But when the inspectors went to the couple's home in Little Oakley near Harwich on February 22 they found the birds in various states of neglect, due to the inadequate and dirty cages and failure to take them for veterinary help.

Some of them were unable to stretch their wings properly because their cages were too small.

One of the birds - a Cassins Hawk Eagle - was the only one of its kind in the entire country and worth about £10,000 , but it was found with missing feathers.

Cleave pleaded guilty to 11 charges relating to causing unnecessary animal suffering and his wife, Jacqueline, 43, admitted to six charges, all between January 22 and February 22 this year.

Neil Forbes, a vet and avian expert, accompanied the RSPCA inspectors while they spent an entire day at the property.

In a report he concluded: “These aviaries are filth akin to the bird version of the Black Hole of Calcutta. It is totally unacceptable.”

And he said in 20 years of visiting birds of prey, it had been the “worst, filthiest and most deplorable site that I have ever had the misfortune to visit”.

A DVD shown to the court showed the birds in cramped cages, while some were stood in so much of their filth that it had caused deformities to their feet.

Among the other birds found were a kestrel, Gabar Goshawk and various owls and falcons.

At one stage, Cleave - a freight train driver who worked 72-hour weeks - had to use a hammer to break into a cage which had not been recently opened.

Sarah Otte, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said many birds had “distorted, swollen and infected feet” as a result of treading in faeces, while others were kept in cramped cages.

Alison Lambert, mitigating, said it was a case of “neglect and poor husbandry” rather than “wilful cruelty”.

She added the couple were remorseful and had taken on many of the birds from other people who were unable to look after them.

Sentencing, chairman of the bench, Peter Mockford said the suffering caused was “reckless” but “not deliberate”.

He handed the pair two-month jail terms, suspended for a year, and ordered them both to pay costs of £2,844.19.

Mr Cleave was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. His wife, who works as a train driver assessor, was told to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.

They were also banned indefinitely from keeping birds, reptiles, insects and invertebrates.