Wiltshire man sentenced in England's biggest raptor persecution case
21 year Archie Watson admitted crimes against birds of prey
A man from near Pewsey has been handed a community order, after what's thought to be England's biggest raptor persecution case.
Archie Watson, who's 21 and from Dragon Lane in Manningford Bruce admitted the possession of a number of dead birds - three red kites, five buzzards and a herring or black-backed gull - which is against the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
He also pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday (1st June) to failing to comply with the conditions of his firearms certificate, relating to the correct storage of shotguns and ammunition.
But Watson denied killing the birds, which were found in a well following a warrant at the farm where he worked as a gamekeeper.
He's been sentenced to a community order of 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £393 in costs and a £95 surcharge.
The investigation into Watson was started by the RSPB in August 2020, who passed evidence to Wiltshire Police about the persecution of wild birds in the Avebury area.
That led to warrants being carried out by police, alongside the bird protection charity, Natural England, Hampshire Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
PC Marc Jackson from Wiltshire Police said:
“The court result today is positive and encouraging in the fight against bird crime in the UK. It clearly demonstrates that Wiltshire Police will take robust action against any individual who seeks to break the law by persecuting wild birds.
“We would like to thank the partner agencies who have assisted us during this investigation to reach this positive outcome the RSPB, Natural England, Hampshire Police and the National Wildlife crime unit, as well as other individuals and organisations such as the National History Museum.
“It is certainly unusual for so many birds of prey to be found dead in such a small area and Wiltshire Police will continue to work with partners to help raise awareness and bring before the courts those who are suspected of committing such crimes within Wiltshire and Swindon.”
Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations, said:
“The shocking discovery of this tomb of raptors is a reminder of the horrors of raptor persecution.
“Whilst it is not known who was involved or where these birds were killed, we believe it is highly likely they were illegally killed.
“Raptor persecution is at an all-time high and overwhelmingly associated with land managed for gamebird shooting.
“The public plays an important role in helping us identify raptor persecution, so if you have information please contact us along with the police online or by calling 101 to help bring this appalling practice to an end.”