A gamekeeper on a Norfolk country estate has been charged with illegally killing wild birds
Allen Lambert, 64, who lives and works on the Stody Estate, has been charged with a string of offences including killing buzzards, a sparrowhawk and a tawny owl.
It is understood he had been employed as gamekeeper on the estate near Melton Constable for more than 20 years.
Nobody from the estate, which includes farmland, 10 acres of gardens and holiday cottages, was available to comment.
Norfolk Police said Lambert would appear before King’s Lynn magistrates on Thursday charged with killing 16 wild birds, including 14 buzzards, one sparrowhawk and a tawny owl.
He is also accused of failure to comply with a firearms certificate, possession of nine buzzards, and four counts of possession and storage of banned poisons and pesticides.
All of the charges related to alleged offences between January and April.
Lambert is currently on conditional police bail.
The Stody estate featured in the Domesday book of 1085.
It was owned by the Earl of Lothian in the late 19th century before being purchased in 1932 by Lord Rothermere.
It is currently owned and farmed by the Knight family, who bought the estate in 1941.
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/regional/gamekeeper-charged-over-wild-birds-1-5752867
Thanks for this information. It’s too much to hope that he will be given a custodial sentence. if he is found guilty. He should NEVER be allowed anywhere near the countryside or firearms EVER.
It’s pointless for me to ask why”Nobody from the estate, which includes farmland, 10 acres of gardens and holiday cottages, was available to comment!” They knew all about it, for sure, and they should also be prosecuted. Of course they will pay for his Defence, and will have guaranteed the bail. The ones who are really responsible always get off scot-free,
WTF was he doing with NINE buzzards?
Their employers should be made accountable as well. That would perhaps make a difference.