A teenager who tortured more than 200 rare birds before posting the carcasses through people's letterboxes with a grin has been jailed for six months.

Thomas Knox, 19, squeezed, kicked and battered the birds to death after stealing them from a life-long collector's aviary in Brownhills, West Midlands.

CCTV footage shows the teenager arrive with three others at a block of flats in Walsall, with bags and boxes containing the dead and alive animals, including doves and rare jays and quails.

Thomas Knox was part of a gang who tortured over 200 rare birds before posting the carcasses through people's letterboxes with a grin. Here he can be seen grinning, surrounded by the dead birds

Along with three others Knox, 19, squeezed, kicked and battered the birds to death after stealing them from a life-long collector's aviary in Brownhills, West Midlands

The video shows him grinning as the gang then post the birds through resident's letterboxes and force them through 'barely open' living room windows.

One shocking image shows one of the vile yobs kick a bird across the hallway while others were jammed into drawers and even chased by a dog.

The video shows him grinning as the gang then post the birds through resident's letterboxes and force them through 'barely open' living room windows

On Wednesday Knox, from Bloxwich, appeared via video-link at Walsall Magistrates Court and was jailed for six months.

He was also ordered to pay £350 compensation and £80 victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench, Bob Thomas, described the case as the 'most disturbing' he had ever seen.

Knox, who spent most of the trial giggling with his co-accused in the dock, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, receiving stolen goods, common assault and using threatening words or behaviour

He added: 'The animals must have suffered significant distress.

'Your trial was one of the most disturbing I have ever had the misfortune to sit in.'

Mr Thomas also cirticised Knox for spending most of the trial giggling with his co-accused in the dock.

The court heard Knox went along to the flats with pals Jake Higgs, 23, Chad Worgan, 19, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They had earlier bundled the birds into sacks and containers after stealing them from a collectors house in Brownhills, West Midlands.

Owner Lee Williams, 43, who spent his life collecting rare jays, finches, budgerigars (left), doves (right), quails and pigeons, was 'devastated' after the yobs only left one bird alive (stock images)

Owner Lee Williams, 43, who spent his life collecting rare jays, finches, budgerigars, doves, quails and pigeons, was 'devastated' after the yobs only left one bird alive.

Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said it would cost £1,500 to replace the birds, and added: 'He cannot afford to replace the birds and he cannot claim on the insurance.'

Knox was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, receiving stolen goods, common assault and using threatening words or behaviour.

The latter charges related to his behaviour towards a dog warden and housing staff when he was told his dog was going to be taken away.

Vaughn Whistance, defending, said Knox was a vulnerable young man who suffered with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

He added: 'He has been greatly influenced by the behaviour of others.'

Co-accused Higgs from Mossley, West Midlands, was also due to learn his fate on Wednesday but failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Worgan, from Goscote, Walsall, was jailed for six months last Friday for his role in the act of animal cruelty.