Revealed: wolf whistling culprit is Charlie the parrot!
00:00, 10 July 2008
Police officers investigating a complaint about youngsters being wolf-whistled at came face to face with the beak.
Two PCSOs called at a house in Herne Bay - and found the culprit was 10-year-old African grey parrot Charlie.
Officers had been sent an anonymous letter, thought to be penned by a disgusted parent, complaining about a man regularly spotted on his balcony whistling inappropriately in the direction of groups of children at a park.
PCSO Della Newman was ordered round and told to take back-up, so she enlisted fellow community support officer Matt Sedgwick.
No sooner had the pair called round the house in Hampton Pier Avenue than they were shocked to discover that they, too, were subjected to the catcalls.
Perched in its cage was foul-beaked Charlie.
Owners Terry and Phyllis Burgoine said they knew he was a nuisance but had not appreciated he had an audience.
See the video of Charlie in action
“Terry spends most of his time sitting out there on the balcony by the play area,” said Mrs Burgoine, 72. “Charlie wolf whistles and shouts 'Oi!’ and they thought it was Terry.
“So now Terry’s stuck an Asbo sticker on his cage!”
PCSO Newman said: “We had this anonymous letter reporting anti-social behaviour from a large man of stocky build. My sergeant said 'we don’t know what we’re dealing with here so don’t go on your own’.
“As soon as we walked into the lounge we realised it was the parrot. We were in fits of laughter.”
Mrs Burgoine added: “Charlie just picks up things. He also barks like a dog and sings nursery rhymes: Humpton Dumpty, Twinkle Little Star and Charlie is my Darling, always in that order.”
Mr Burgoine, 69, added that Charlie also has a nice line in swear words.