Officials warned of ‘serious wildlife incidents’ at Queen’s Sandringham estate

15th July 2022 Exclusive: Dozens of laws protect Queen’s private estates from investigators – but documents reveal allegations of wildlife crime A Guardian investigation has revealed that dozens of UK laws stipulate that police are barred from entering any of the Queen’s private estates to investigate crimes. On a pleasant autumn evening in 2007, a …

Wicklow farmer convicted after ‘astonishing amount of poison’ found in dead birds

13th July 2022 A Co Wicklow farmer has been convicted and fined after large amounts of poison were found in dead protected birds. Christopher Thomas Noel Doyle, also known as Noel Doyle Senior, with an address of Crehelp, Co. Wicklow, was before Carlow District Court charged with a breach of the Birds and Natural Habitats …

Another gamekeeper convicted for poison offences on a pheasant shoot

13th June 2022 David Matthews, a gamekeeper with 50 years experience, has been convicted at Wrexham Magistrates Court for poison offences uncovered on the McAlpine Estate in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, North Wales, where he has worked for 25 years. In February 2021 a dead red kite was found on the estate by a member of …

Gamekeeper caught with illegally killed birds on Wiltshire farm

It is said to be England's largest raptor persecution case 2nd June 2022 A Wiltshire man was caught with a number deceased red kites, buzzards and herrings at a farm in Pewsey, a court heard. Archie Watson, 21, of Dragon Lane, Manningford Bruce in Pewsey was employed as a gamekeeper on the farm and previously …

Man in court for harming birds of prey in ‘largest English raptor persecution case’

10th May 2022 A 21-year-old Wiltshire man is due in court for deliberately harming legally protected British birds of prey in what is being called ‘potentially the largest English raptor persecution case in terms of numbers of victims.’ Raptor persecution is the illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of birds of prey like peregrine falcons, red …

Police probe traps baited with live pigeons on Norfolk estate

9th May 2022 A police investigation is under way into whether live pigeons were used as bait to kill birds of prey on a Norfolk estate. Officers went to the Hilborough House estate belonging to William van Cutsem, 42, a close friend of Prince William and godfather to Prince George, as part of a probe …

Gamekeeper convicted for animal cruelty in relation to badger baiting

From Raptor Persecution UK 6th May 2022 Millden Estate (Angus Glens) gamekeeper convicted for animal cruelty in relation to badger baiting The long-running criminal case against a gamekeeper from Millden Estate in the Angus Glens was partially completed yesterday. Rhys Davies, 28, pleaded guilty at Forfar Sheriff Court to a number of offences relating to …

Police officer, gamekeeper & son in court for peregrine theft case

18th February 2022 Three people appeared in court last week charged with a number of offences in relation to alleged peregrine theft in the Scottish Borders. Serving police officer WPC Suzanne Hall, 43, part-time gamekeeper Timothy Hall, 46, and their 21-year-old son, Lewis Hall, all from Lamberton Holdings in Berwick-upon-Tweed. They are accused of breaching …

MP who said eagles not welcome in constituency received funds from shooting estate

15th February 2022 West Dorset MP Chris Loder caused outrage when he seemed to imply police should not prioritise eagle death A Conservative MP who said eagles are not welcome in his constituency had his election campaign funded by a shooting estate, the Guardian can reveal. The West Dorset MP, Chris Loder, caused outrage when …

Gamekeeper who beat two buzzards to death given suspended jail sentence

Good 5 minute video from Channel 4 News - The report starts with distressing footage of animal cruelty. https://www.channel4.com/news/gamekeeper-who-beat-two-buzzards-to-death-given-suspended-jail-sentence Hunting is a multi-million pound industry. People pay handsomely to hunt grouse, pheasants and other game. But keeping their numbers up risks creating an incentive to keep the numbers of their predators down. The problem? Many …