Wanstead pigeon-feeding woman ‘could end up in prison’

Redbridge Council issued the following statement today, 24 September 2019.

Woman who refused to stop leaving food on the borough’s streets could end up in prison warns judge

A Wanstead woman who spent years leaving food and scraps of raw meat outdoors triggering a rodent infestation and blighting her local area, has been warned she could end up behind bars.

Jennifer Bagram, 71, found herself in court again after persistently flouting court orders banning her from putting out food anywhere in the borough, and was warned by the judge she could end up in prison unless she changed her behaviour.

For over 20 years Bagram, of Grosvenor Road, had placed meat, bird food and nuts in open spaces, alleyways and under trees near her home and in the gardens of her neighbours to feed pigeons and other wildlife.

Despairing residents plagued by foxes digging up their gardens, rat infestations and property damage from flocks of pigeons resulting from Bagram’s actions, thought their misery was over when she was taken to court in 2018.

It wasn’t long before Bagram was back to her old habits and despite repeated council warnings she continued to break the Community Protection Notice and Criminal Behaviour Order served on her earlier.

Council enforcement officers took Bagram to court again this year after building up a dossier documenting numerous breaches of her banning orders since 2018. 

She appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 10, 2019, after pleading guilty to four counts of breaching her court order in relation to dropping food in and around Wanstead.

Bagram was sentenced to a six-month community order, told to abide by the terms and conditions of her existing court order and ordered to be electronically GPS tagged for three months in conjunction with being excluded from entering certain parts of the borough including High Street Wanstead.

Cabinet Member for Civic Pride Cllr John Howard said:

“We have tried to work with Miss Bagram over the years but unfortunately our repeated warnings have fallen on deaf ears.

“We were left with no choice but to take her to court as she refuses to change her behaviour and her actions are having an adverse effect on the local community.

“It’s not fair for local people to be suffering because of her persistent anti-social behaviour.”