Thanks to Raptor Persecution UK for the info 12th February 2024 Breaking news…. Part-time gamekeeper Timothy Hall, 48, and his son, Lewis Hall, 23, appeared at Jedburgh Sheriff Court this morning for sentencing after they earlier pleaded guilty to the illegal laundering of wild peregrines which they’d stolen from sites across southern Scotland (see here for previous …
Man to pay £7,000 in fine and confiscation charges following peregrine falcon case
1st February A 61-year-old man has been ordered to pay over £7,000 in fine and confiscation charges after pleading guilty to advertising and selling peregrine falcon chicks without the required legal documentation under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018. Gary MacFarlane from Blackridge, West Lothian, was fined £2,100 when he appeared before …
Fine for pensioner who shot bird of prey
26th January 2024 A PENSIONER who was found guilty of gunning down a protected bird of prey has been left with a bill of more than £2,000 after an RSPCA investigation landed him in court. Peter Smith, of Clifton Close, Barnsley was charged with killing a sparrowhawk at Hope Street Allotments, Mapplewell, in February last …
Derbyshire ‘drug addict’ jailed for stealing peregrine eggs
16th January 2024 RSPB Press Release (16 January 2024) Derbyshire man caught on camera raiding peregrine falcon nest given custodial prison sentence. At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on 15 January 2023, Christopher Wheeldon of Darley Dale, Matlock pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing Peregrine Falcons and taking Peregrine Falcon eggs and was sentenced to 8 weeks in …
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Peregrine falcon found dead in illegal trap in Scotland
28th November 2023 A peregrine falcon was found dead in a 'barbaric' illegal trap in woodland near Edinburgh. Police are investigating after the body of the protected bird of prey was discovered 100 yards from a public footpath near Wester Bavelaw, Balerno, on Thursday (November 28). Wildlife crime officer DC Daniel Crilley, said: “This protected …
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Two-thirds of confirmed illegal killings of birds of prey last year linked to shooting estates
From Channel 4 News 23rd November 2023 Around two-thirds of the confirmed illegal killings of birds of prey last year are linked to shooting estates. That's according to the RSPB's latest report on bird crime, which we can exclusively reveal. Buzzards, red kites, goshawks, hen harriers, peregrine falcons and white-tailed eagles have all fallen victim …
Van Cutsem’s gamekeeper convicted of having offensive weapon but all charges of alleged wildlife crime ‘withdrawn’
Article from Raptor Persecution UK 17th October 2023 Two gamekeepers who work on William van Cutsem’s Hilborough Estate in Norfolk appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court this morning to face a number of charges of alleged wildlife crime. Dominic Green, 35, of Cockley Cley Road, Hilborough, Thetford and William Richardson, 22, of Nethergate Street, Hopton, near …
Man fails to attend court to face charges of alleged peregrine egg theft in Derbyshire
Message from Raptor Persecution UK 16th October 2023 Christopher Wheeldon, 34, of Lime Grove, Darley Dale, Matlock was due in court in Chesterfield today to face charges charges relating to the alleged theft of peregrine eggs and disturbance of a peregrine nest site in Bolsover in April 2023. Wheeldon failed to attend court and a …
Corpses of badgers, birds and otters found in Wigston man’s chest freezer
UPDATE - 15th November 2023 Man found with wild animal corpses in freezer says collecting roadkill is a 'hobby' Kevin Birtles said some were for taxidermy while others were roadkill he picked up to prevent children from seeing A man found with the frozen corpses of protected animals said he collected roadkill as a hobby. …
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Man convicted for killing pine marten on Scottish gamebird shooting estate but something odd going on here…
1st October 2023 Post from Raptor Persecution UK Earlier this week, Police Scotland issued a press statement about the conviction of two men in relation to a wildlife crime investigation on a pheasant and partridge shooting estate in Stewartry, Dumfries & Galloway. David Excell, 54, pleaded guilty to trapping and killing a pine marten on …