Rocky the feathery pet has something to squawk about after his detective work earned him the moniker Hercule Parrot.

The much-loved pet provided vital evidence to detectives, when he bit an intruder determined to steal valuables from a Gillingham home.

Now his feather-brained endeavours have gained him national coverage - on the front of the Sun newspaper.

We exclusively revealed earlier this week how Vitalij Kiseliov broke into the home of Trudy and Peter Rowing in Corporation Road, Gillingham, last month.

He stole a laptop, phone and two oxygen tanks Mrs Rowing needs to help her breathing problems.

But he made a wrong move in trying to tackle their pet African grey parrot Rocky.

Mr and Mrs Rowing, who were asleep at the time of the burglary in the early hours of June 15, believe Kiseliov had opened Rocky’s cage in an effort to steal him.

They reckon he threw the parrot out of the window, because he bit him,” said Mr Rowing, 72.

“They reckon they found some DNA.

“There were fingerprints all over the TV and the window. They found blood by the door. They got him the next day because he was on their database.”

Although police couldn’t say precisely how Kiseliov cut himself, they were able to confirm his blood had been found during the investigation at the property.

The Sun's front page headline labelled the bird Hercule Parrot.

Mrs Rowing, 70, added: “He wasn’t very clever or he’d have put gloves on.”

It wasn’t long before Rocky was back home – thanks to an appeal on Facebook by granddaughter Nikki – but he was left traumatised by the ordeal, and the couple were also shaken.

“Now someone’s come into the house in the middle of the night, it’s put me on edge,” said Mrs Rowing.

Mr Rowing added: “It’s just made us nervous all the time.”

The couple say Kiseliov even took special story books belonging to Mrs Rowing – who is registered as blind – and four cans of Stella.

But he was quickly found by police, and was sentenced to four years in prison last week, after admitting six “creeper” break-ins in Gillingham at night.

DC Richard Sears said: “I do hope that those affected by Kiseliov’s actions can take comfort in this successful conviction.”

Kiseliov, of Chatham, admitted six counts of burglary and was jailed for four years by Maidstone crown court.

Kiseliov will be deported at the end of his sentence.