A parrot owner was left “terrified” when her ex attacked her – in a custody battle over their pet bird.
Lena Nixon, 23, bought her £850 Amazon parrot Custard while she was dating Kaya Colakoglu, 28.
But she told how the lovebirds affair turned sour after the pair split when Colakoglu became violent after drinking.
Lena fled to a friend’s house and took Custard.
But Colakoglu turned up at the property holding a baseball bat and yelled: “Custard is mine.”
Ms Nixon said: “He lifted the bat with full force and brought it down on the window and it shattered.
“My friend was screaming hysterically because glass hit her in the face.
“We were both terrified and were begging him to stop.
“He was screaming about my parrot Custard and how it belonged to him and he wanted it.
“I’d never seen him so angry.”
Lena, of Rhyl, North Wales, who owns another parrot called Zuzu, alerted the police and officers turned up at the flat within just minutes.
Colakoglu was arrested and pleaded guilty to assault, affray, criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon.
He was given a 10 month suspended sentence and a three-year-restraining order to stay away from Lena at Mold Crown Court.
Matthew Curtis, defending, said the couple’s relationship was now over.
Judge Huw Rees said the couple had previously had a good relationship and would spare Colakoglu doing bird behind bars in jail.
He said: “I am willing to accept this was the exception rather than the norm.”
Speaking after the court hearing, Lena said: “I was devastated to find out he got a suspended sentence.
“Every new day brings emotional torment because of what he did.
“I find it heard to trust people.
“I bought Custard to distract myself from his alcohol problems.
“I am just so glad me and my parrots got away from him.”