A bird breeder in the Fens appeared at court yesterday on a number of charges including the caging of seven wild birds.

Edward William Easter, 72, also appeared at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court accused of causing unnecessary suffering to several birds in his possession.

Easter, of Hollycroft Road, Emneth, near Wisbech, pleaded not guilty to the 16 charges put before him yesterday afternoon. Jonathan Eales, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the trial could last up to three days and asked magistrates for the case to be taken on by a district judge.

The retired school teacher is charged with having two wild red-backed shrikes, a wild stonechat, three wild goldfinches, and a wild grey wagtail in his possession on September 19 last year.

He is accused of causing unnecessary suffering to two red-backed shrikes by failing to provide appropriate treatment for a severe fungal dermatitis. He is also accused of causing unnecessary suffering to another red-backed shrike by failing to provide appropriate treatment for a parasitic mite infestation causing a skin condition. Easter is alleged to have not taken steps to ensure the needs of two grey wagtails and two yellow wagtails were met by providing appropriate husbandry and management to prevent disease.

He is also alleged to have caused unnecessary suffering to another red-backed shrike and a grey wagtail by failing to provide adequate parasitic control. He will return to King's Lynn Magistrates' Court later this month to fix a date for his trial.

david.blackmore@archant.co.uk