She added: "It’s absolutely ridiculous. There are murderers who don’t get that much. The sentence just doesn’t fit the crime at all.

"I never thought he might go to prison. It never entered my head. Our barrister was in tears. He’s been practising for 17 years and he says he’s never met anybody quite like Harry."

Pat visited her husband as soon as she was allowed and says he is "bearing up well in the circumstances".

"He’s more worried about us and the birds. He’s not bothered about himself.

"The farm and the birds have always been his main concerns, whether they are getting proper care and attention." The 114 surviving birds confiscated by Customs & Excise officers, which did not form part of the prosecution are to be the subject of a hearing to decide whether they should be returned to the farm.

"At the moment I’m trying to do everything as normal, but I don’t know about the breeding of birds," said Pat.

"It’s a case of carrying on as normal and looking after the birds as best we can. This case has taken away a lifetime’s work.

"Everyone in the village is horrified, and we have had dozens of letters and so many phone calls. I would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness at this difficult time.

"Harry said as they took him out of court that his conscience is clear, and it definitely is, and so is ours. We have nothing to be ashamed of."