Elderly Man Fined for Noisy Cockerel

Harold Brown, an 80-year-old pensioner from Calmore, Hampshire, has been fined £200 after his pet cockerel was deemed a 'nuisance' by neighbours, crowing as early as 3am and reportedly 90 times in an hour and a half. Neighbours described the sound as 'torture', leading to sleep disturbances and health issues, with one resident documenting the noise over several days. Brown defended himself in court, claiming the noise was more of a 'croak' and alleging a conspiracy against him by the residents and the New Forest District Council (NFDC). The NFDC had previously issued an abatement notice to Brown in December 2022 due to numerous complaints but found he failed to comply, leading to the recent court case. Despite the death of his first cockerel, which provided a brief respite, Brown obtained another cockerel, prompting further complaints. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the community regarding noise pollution from pets.