FOR ONCE the birds had not flown – there were tell tale signs of their fate beneath their coop.

Thomas Hooper was the culprit.

At night he crept into the garden of Rowner vicar A A Burney, passing across gas lime, leaving a track to the box where the ten tame pigeons were roosting for the night.

The following morning, only four remained and at the foot of the coop lay blood and feathers.

However, a neighbour, having difficulty with sleep, had seen the intruder near the property and a stepladder was found propped up near the coop.

A tip-off led police to the home of a Fareham man where the dead birds were identified.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Hooper denied burglary at his trial at Hampshire Assizes in 1887.

Jurors, who convicted him within seconds, soon discovered why.

It was his third similar offence and earned him a spell of seven years penal servitude.