A PIGEON racer has been left “devastated” after his prized birds were stolen from his coop in Stourton.

Michael Phipps, aged 76, who has been racing pigeons at Wollaston Flying Club for the past 15 years, was left in tears following the theft of the homing birds from their Prestwood Drive base.

Five of his racers were stolen from the coop on the evening of Sunday, April 30, including a former international race winner.

Mr Phipps told the News: “We had a call from our neighbour saying two lads were breaking into the pigeon coop. She was terrified.

“We raced down there and tried to get the registration number of the car before they drove off, but we were too late.

“When I saw what they had done I was devastated. I just don’t know why they would have taken the birds. Why pinch pigeons?

“They’re all homing pigeons, so as soon as they let them go they will just fly straight back to me, and they can’t even sell them because they are all in my name, so other racers won’t take them.

“I’ve been down here 20 years and we’ve never had a bird stolen. We’ve had a couple of break-ins where people have taken some of the corn and the equipment, but never a bird.”

The thieves also stole two big dustbins full of corn, but Mr Phipps is more concerned with what the offenders might do to his birds.

“I think they will kill them,” he said. “They won’t serve any other purpose.

“At the moment I’m going to finish the current season and if I don’t have the birds back before next season then I think I will pack it in and call it a day.

“I’ve been very lucky. One of the pigeons they took was my best racer who has won a couple of races from France, but I don’t do it to win, I do it for the love of it.

“All I care about is getting them back home.”

Mr Phipps’ daughter Michelle said she is worried about the affect the incident has had on her father’s health, adding: “My dad’s not well at the moment and this has just knocked him backwards.

“He’s been crying and even slept down the field the night after, scared they were going to come back. He’s worried that this will happen again.

“I want to raise awareness to other pigeon flyers in the area to be vigilant. To a lot of these people, pigeon racing is their life and gives them something to get up for, as is the case with my dad.”

Anyone with any information about the incident, or those who have been offered the pigeons for sale, should call Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 375 of 3 May, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.