Man sentenced after birds of prey found shot dead in north Suffolk
72 year old Frances Addison, of South Park in Weeting, will serve a suspended sentence
A Norfolk man has been handed a suspended sentence after five birds of prey were found shot dead in a car park near a Suffolk forest.
The Goshawks were discovered in Kings Forest, near Wordwell, on January 16.
Suffolk Police found the birds bodies contained multiple pieces of shot, while human DNA was recovered from a swab from one of the bird's legs.
72 year old Frances Addison, of South Park in Weeting was subsequently arrested and charged.
He was also accused of firearms offences after a search of his home.
He claimed that he had found the Goshawks and then put them back and that all gamekeepers were killing birds of prey.
Addison admitted to a total of 19 offences, including:
• Five counts of possession of a dead schedule 1 wild bird (Goshawk)
• One count of killing a non-schedule 1 wild bird (Wood Pigeon)
• One count of use of an animal trap in circumstance for which it is not approved
• Two counts of possession of an article capable of being used to commit a summary offence, namely two air rifles and six animal traps
• Six counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a firearm certificate
• Four counts of failing to comply with the condition of a shotgun certificate.
He was sentenced at Norwich Magistrates Court to 12 weeks behind bars, suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to pay £1080 in compensation and £105 in costs.
Mark Thomas, UK Head of Investigations at the RSPB said:
"Goshawks are an exhilarating apex predator, so it was both shocking and appalling to see images of the five shot birds discarded in the Breckland Forest car park, we applaud the efforts and professionalism of Suffolk Police in deploying key forensic techniques that have led to court charges in this case.
"In 2021, two-thirds of all confirmed UK raptor persecution incidents happened in connection with land used for gamebird shooting, faced with huge public displeasure there is increasingly no place to hide for those who commit these crimes’.
Sergeant Brian Calver, of Suffolk Constabulary’s Rural and Wildlife Crime team, said: “This is a particularly disturbing case. Bird of prey crime is a national wildlife crime priority, which is taken very seriously by police.
"We will leave no stone unturned in pursuing criminals that cause deliberate harm to wildlife.
"This incident has had a significant impact on the Goshawk population in the Brecks and in particular their ability to expand their territory.
"As well as possessing dead schedule one birds, Addison has shown a complete disregard for the security of his guns, which is equally concerning.”
All birds of prey are protected by law. Killing or injuring one can result in a fine or time in prison.