A wild goldfinch was found being kept illegally in a cage in a caravan home in the Midlands, a court heard.

Police were called because Joseph Glyptis, aged 55, had parked his caravan in a lay-by in Bewdley.

When officers looked inside they discovered the goldfinch, which had injuries to its wing and beak, flying around the cage.

Glyptis was fined £100 after pleading guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court yesterday to possessing a wild bird. Mrs Emma Lile, prosecuting, said officers were called to the caravan on August 10.

“The bird was flying around the cage and crashing into the walls. Officers were under the opinion that it was a wild bird. Mr Glyptis refused to be interviewed at the scene and said it was a pet and he had it for 12 months,” she added.

She said the bird was taken to the vets where it was examined and confirmed to be a bird that was taken from the wild and had been “in captivity” for about two months. It had no rings on its feet, which would have been a sign it had been bred in captivity, which is legal, she added.

“It had injuries to its primary flight feathers consistent with the bird trying to escape from the cage,” she said.

Mr John Rogers, defending, said Glyptis had been living in the caravan after separating from his family and believed the bird had been bred in captivity.

“Mr Glyptis would say that he purchased the bird from what he would say was a reputable retailer and had it in a cage when it was found by police,” said Mr Rogers.

Glyptis, of no fixed address, was fined £100 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge fee of £15.

RSPCA spokeswoman Judith Haw said: “It is a sad fact that large numbers of wild British birds are being trapped, often by cruel methods, and reduced into captivity, causing the birds shock and stress, just so that people can make money.”