Man denies damaging game crops at estate

Retired head gamekeeper appears in relation to incident at Edradynate Estate

A retired head gamekeeper has denied maliciously damaging crops on a millionaire banker’s estate by spraying them with a mystery substance.

David Campbell, 69, is alleged to have carried out the act at Edradynate Estate in Perthshire, which is owned by financier Michael Campbell.

The accused, of Crieff Road, Strathtay, denies that between April 14 and 16 last year he maliciously damaged game crops by spraying them with an unknown substance which caused them to rot and perish.

Trial has been scheduled for later this year.

Perth Sheriff Court was told the Crown was seeking to rely on CCTV footage.

However, solicitor David Holmes said they had been unable to obtain the relevant DVD from prosecutors.

He said: “The critical point seems to be identification from the DVD, so it would be nice to see it. We have been looking for it for about a year.

“We are still waiting for the DVD which I think is referred to in the police summary. It seems to form a critical part of the Crown case.”

Campbell was due to stand trial on June 11 but Sheriff Pino di Emidio agreed to the joint motion to adjourn the case and the trial was put back until August.

● Earlier this month, in an unrelated case, the police revealed they are investigating the poisoning of three dogs and two birds of prey at Edradynate and neighbouring Pitnacree Estate.

The working dogs and buzzards were found dead as a result of poisoning in and around the Highland Perthshire estates during the past seven months.

Police Scotland called for help from the public in identifying the culprits and confirmed that Edradynate had been the subject of at least four police probes in the past 15 years.

A force spokesman said: “Police Scotland is currently investigating a number of illegal poisoning incidents which have happened in the Perthshire area over the last seven months.

“Sometime between October 2017 and April 2018 three working dogs and two buzzards have died as a result of poisoning in and around the Edradynate and Pitnacree estates area in Highland Perthshire.”

A Police Scotland wildlife crime liaison officer said: “The owners are understandably extremely upset at the loss of their dogs.

“Once again, we also find ourselves investigating the illegal killing of raptors and this is extremely disappointing.

“The poisons which have been used in both cases are illegal poisons and have been banned from use in the UK for many years.

“We have searched the areas and our investigations to date would suggest that there is not a wider threat to public safety.”

We are still waiting for the DVD which I think is referred to in the police summary. It seems to form a critical part of the Crown case. DAVID HOLMES SOLICITOR

David Campbell has denied maliciously damaging crops in Perthshire.