A CROWTHORNE pensioner is set to face trial after being accused of failing to prevent noise coming from his caged birds.

Mr Stephen Burns, of Sandhurst Road, is the owner of Crowthorne’s ‘Raven Haven’ bird sanctuary and has denied ‘nuisance’ claims levelled at him by Bracknell Forest Council (BFC).

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However, he could be hit with an unlimited fine if he is found guilty of two charges relating to the disturbance he allegedly caused.

Reading Magistrates’ Court today heard details of the charges accusing the 62-year-old of failing to comply with abatement notices handed to him in March last year.

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Abatement notices are given out by local authorities if they think nuisance exists or could occur.

In this case, Mr Burns is accused of failing to prevent nuisance caused by noise from his caged birds after being handed the notice.

At a hearing in September 2019, Mr Burns pleaded not guilty to both charges.

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The Crowthorne man was not present at court yesterday (September 16) to hear District Judge Goozee inform the defence and BFC’s prosecutor of the dates of his upcoming trial at Reading Magistrates Court, which is expected to run from February 22-24, 2021.

The court heard how BFC is set to bring forward five witnesses for the trial, with the defence providing an audiology expert, too.

District Judge Goozee extended Mr Burns’ unconditional bail until the start of the trial.