'It's like something from a Hitchcock film': Elderly couple too scared to leave own home after being terrorised by an angry pheasant



Ann Hudson, 77, and husband Ben, 79, are only family attacked in Shropshire village

Daughter Sally-Ann now leaves home with badminton racquet for protection

The attacks have been going on for four months

Vandalising cars, attacking the elderly and head-butting windows, Phil has become notorious in his home village.

The yob in question? Not a feral teen but a very territorial pheasant.

Residents of Wentnor in Shropshire spoke of their despair yesterday at the bird’s behaviour, with some saying they can’t leave their home for fear of being pecked and chased.

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Sally-Ann Hudson, 44 has been protecting her elderly parents from the angry bird for four months

Sally-Ann now keeps a badminton racquet close by when she walks round her garden to fend off the 2ft pheasant

The 2ft tall pheasant, nicknamed Phil, lurks by the home of Sally-Ann Hudson, 44, and her parents Ann, 77, and Ben, 79.

He waits throughout the day and night and swoops when the family dares to emerge.



When they are inside, he head-butts the windows and has even tried to break into the front door.



The attacks have got so bad Miss Hudson is scared of leaving home without gloves and a badminton racquet to fend him off.

Sally-Ann said she has tried to befriend the bird by feeding him crumbs of corn bread but the attacks have continued regardless

She claims to have been stalked for the past four months, with the bird specifically targeting her family.



Experts said this is probably because Phil has become confused, seeing her as a rival male pheasant.

Miss Hudson, a medical secretary, said: ‘Sometimes I go from one room into another, and he will run round the outside of the house following my movements.



'He even tries to get into the house – it’s like something from a Hitchcock film.

Sally-Ann Hudson faces up to her feathery rival with her defence weapon of choice- a badminton racquet



‘Often when we get in the car, he will appear from nowhere and either jump on the car or start pecking it.



'He runs alongside as we drive away, pecking and head-butting the wheels.’

The family has resorted to leaving out food for Phil in the hope he might stop seeing them as enemies.

Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Hedren was told mechanical birds would be used for the violent attack scenes. Instead, she endured five solid days of being pecked by live gulls, ravens and crows

Ouch: The bird's sharp beak pecks Sally-Ann Hudson

‘A couple of times in the last two weeks I have tried to befriend him, feeding him crumbs of corn bread, which he loves,’ Miss Hudson added. ‘

But he has no gratitude and is always ready to attack. Pheasants are normally just rather dopey birds – but this one is a nutter.’