But James Newbury's plan backfired when a prowling fox struck at night and killed both the cocks and the hens.

And to make matters worse for Newbury, he was traced by police and ended up with a court bill for almost £1,300.

Chesterfield magistrates were told last Wednesday that Janet Fletcher returned from holiday to find the show cocks missing from a hen coop in the back garden of her Shuttlewood home.

Prosecutor Peter Bettany said: "Her two most expensive birds had been stolen. Left behind was some bloodstained material containing the defendant's DNA.

Dishonesty

"He said he had been walking in a field behind the coop and took the birds, not appreciating what they were worth."

Newbury (18), of Mansfield Road, Hasland, admitted theft on 17th February and had previously been cautioned by police for two offences of dishonesty.

Presiding magistrate Peter Greaves fined him £235 and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation with £60 costs.

In mitigation, Steve Brint said: "He keeps hens and he saw two cocks in the paddock. He didn't realise their value and simply took them to mate with his hens.

"But a fox decided to have not only the cocks, but the hens as well."