Hyacinth MacawA fraudster has avoided jail after he conned a parrot expert out of £5,000.

Kevin Alexander, of Ramshead Heights in Seacroft, Leeds, advertised on a trading website two Hyacinth Macaw parrots he claimed to own for £16,000.

The supposed rare birds were seen online by Calderdale parrot fanatic Jack Hutchinson who contacted Alexander, who was using the alias Peter Forbes, about buying them.

He agreed to pay a £5,000 bill for the parrots as deposits, but became suspicious after transferring the cash to a bank account belonging to a Mr Tyreman.

Mr Hutchinson then contacted the police, who tracked Alexander down. Alexander denied the charge until the day of trial at Calderdale Magistrates’ Court, when he finally admitted the charge.

It is the second time Alexander has been convicted of fraud, having admitted selling an imaginary Rolex watch for £1,176.40 at Leeds Crown Court in November last year.

Prosecutor Andrew Dunning said: “Mr Hutchinson is extremely upset by this. He has lost a great deal of faith in human nature and in his hobby. It has affected the way he views the world.”

Phil Axon, defending Alexander, said: “There is a degree of remorse and it’s time he put things into perspective.

“He tried to commit suicide last year and he wishes to address the issues in his life.”

Chairman of the bench Sam Shibil told Alexander: “It seems to me you have not learned your lesson from last year.”

Alexander was given 16-weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He will also be under supervision for 12 months and must pay back £5 per week for the next two years in compensation.