Man who stole 100 chickens from Coulsdon farm jailed

A CHICKEN rustler who stole more than 100 birds – and left a macabre trail of feathers and heads in his wake – was starting a prison sentence this week.

Stanilslaw Miroslaw-Dziedzic was due to stand trial at Croydon Crown Court but pleaded guilty at a pre-trial review.

The 41-year-old, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six months in prison for one count of

"At least I know he got the six months.

"I just sort of said that is about the best I could have hoped for. We replaced them [the livestock] fairly promptly and hopefully that won't happen again."

Mr Miroslaw-Dziedzic was arrested based on forensic science evidence police found in the chickens' field and sheds.

A police spokesman said: "A crowbar was left at the scene on which we found his DNA.

"There was also some sort of plastic bag in the shed which had his fingerprints on it."

He was charged after presenting himself by appointment to police on October 10, and was remanded in custody.

Police are not convinced he acted alone.

The spokesman added: "We suspect, given the number of birds stolen, there may have been more than one person, but there were no witnesses.

"He denied it up until the last minute so he did not reveal anything about why he did it or what he did with the chickens."

Mr Kent had discovered the heist when he arrived at work the morning afterwards.

He was greeted by a grisly trail of feathers and bird carcasses.

It appeared that raiders had entered the field by cutting through the fence next to Brighton Road.

Not all the livestock had been taken, leading Mr Kent to believe the heist had been interrupted.