Gamekeepers

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OP
OP
Poacher

Poacher

Regular
Poacher said:
A "part time gamekeeper", 48, and his son, 23, admitted illegal sale of Peregrines (very lucrative crime if you have the right buyers, prices of £35000 and £64000 are quoted in the report).
"Timothy Hall, who has been described as a part time gamekeeper, also pleaded guilty to being in possession of peregrine falcons and also a charge of failing to provide the needs of an animal as required by good practice by not providing clean water and had inadequate perches for the birds. He also admitted a breach of the Firearms Act by not properly securing a shotgun in his property."
Now for a rather intriguing detail. His wife, a serving police officer, was found not guilty on five charges, but might not yet be out of the wood; there's a potential fraud charge hanging over her. Was she complicit, or so incurious that she asked no questions about he husband and son's illegal activities? Either way, I suspect that she's not destined for a glittering career in crime investigation.
https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/23987552.officer-cleared-accused-selling-peregrine-falcons/
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If they hadn't boasted about the huge amounts of (untaxed) money they were making, they might have got away with it.
Oh. "Timothy Hall was sentenced to 220 hours of unpaid work. Lewis Hall was given 150 hours of unpaid work."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-67960574
 
OP
OP
Poacher

Poacher

Regular
The presiding Sheriff in this case, Peter Paterson, has form in imposing woefully inadequate (IMHV) sentences in cases of wildlife crime.
Gamekeeper Angus Wilson, "caught with 23 illegal snares and gin traps that were used between March 2016 and May 2017, despite Wilson knowing these could lead to agonising deaths for victims ... also found to be in possession of banned pesticide carbofuran, which is hugely poisonous to animals and humans alike" was convicted of 9 offences, including the shooting and killing of two goshawks at Henlaw Wood between March 2016 and May 2017, three buzzards, three badgers and an otter, setting 23 illegal snares and possession of two bottles of the highly toxic (and banned pesticide) Carbofuran, and sentenced to 225 hours of unpaid work. That'll teach him!
The Sheriff wailed that "he had no option within the confines of the law to hand down a custodial sentence due to guidance on short term sentencing". Guidance is just that - guidance. Note that no fine was imposed.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/gruesome-gamekeeper-kept-kill-list-18964271
 
OP
OP
Poacher

Poacher

Regular
Bazzer said:
The reference to HMRC also suggests it is likely one of the specialist fraud or criminal investigation teams is involved.
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That may well also refer to Timothy Hall's wife, "WPC Suzanne Hall, who has been on restricted duties with Police Scotland since her arrest, had a not guilty plea accepted to five wildlife charges, but a fraud charge was deserted with the Crown reserving the right to re-raise the case at a future date". It's very hard to believe that she was totally unaware of the source of the wealth flooding into the Hall household.
https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/23987552.officer-cleared-accused-selling-peregrine-falcons/
 
BoldonLad

BoldonLad

Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
Location
South Tyneside
Poacher said:
That may well also refer to Timothy Hall's wife, "WPC Suzanne Hall, who has been on restricted duties with Police Scotland since her arrest, had a not guilty plea accepted to five wildlife charges, but a fraud charge was deserted with the Crown reserving the right to re-raise the case at a future date". It's very hard to believe that she was totally unaware of the source of the wealth flooding into the Hall household.
https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/23987552.officer-cleared-accused-selling-peregrine-falcons/
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Very true, at the very least, it would appear that her lack of powers of observation suggest a career as a police officer is not for her.
 
stephec

stephec

Regular
BoldonLad said:
Very true, at the very least, it would appear that her lack of powers of observation suggest a career as a police officer is not for her.
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Come on, if your husband came home one Sunday afternoon and said he'd won a Ferrari in a raffle at the pub why wouldn't you believe him?
 
Mr Celine

Mr Celine

Well-Known Member
Poacher said:
That may well also refer to Timothy Hall's wife, "WPC Suzanne Hall, who has been on restricted duties with Police Scotland since her arrest, had a not guilty plea accepted to five wildlife charges, but a fraud charge was deserted with the Crown reserving the right to re-raise the case at a future date". It's very hard to believe that she was totally unaware of the source of the wealth flooding into the Hall household.
https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/23987552.officer-cleared-accused-selling-peregrine-falcons/
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Reported in today's local rag that Lewis Hall paid sums of £1875, £1500 and £13500 into his parents' joint bank account after selling chicks.

How could WPC Hall have failed to notice?
 
OP
OP
Poacher

Poacher

Regular
Mr Celine said:
New law in Scotland banning snares and glue traps and introducing licensing for grouse shooting. Hopefully the threat of losing the grouse licence should stop gamekeepers killing raptors.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68619141
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Great news; can we have similar legislation in England, please?
The grouse shooting estates have had ample opportunity to put their house in order, but have repeatedly shot, trapped and poisoned protected species, and only have themselves to blame for this law becoming necessary.
Unfortunately, I expect they'll continue to defy the law. On the same day this bill was passed, news was released of yet another Hen Harrier disappearing "in suspicious circumstances" in the Angus Glens.
https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/wil...appears-in-suspicious-circumstances-in-angus/
 
OP
OP
Poacher

Poacher

Regular
"A game farm and its director have been fined after the discovery of a buzzard poisoned by a banned pesticide.

Ashley Game Farm in Chulmeigh, Devon, admitted five charges including using banned pesticide carbofuran and was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £590 in costs at Exeter Magistrates Court.

Director Christopher Hodgson pleaded guilty to storing a pesticide without permission and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £150 in costs."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckmgl75450go

Carbofuran was banned more than 20 years ago. What worries me is that "During a search of the farm traces of the highly toxic pesticide were found". Only traces? This probably means that the feckers managed to hide their main stash of this illegal substance. Oh well, it's a good result in that a hefty fine might make them think twice about using it in future.
 
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