Ex-gamekeeper accused of poisoning crops for revenge

A MILLIONAIRE landowner told a court yesterday that a disgruntled gamekeeper poisoned crops in the middle of the night as an act of revenge after their relationship broke down.

Michael Campbell, 76, a City financier, said his 35-year friendship with David Campbell, 69, deteriorated until he was removed from his job.

Perth sheriff court was shown CCTV images of a man in white overalls spraying a substance on crops on the Edradynate estate, Perthshire.

Mr Campbell said he was sure the images showed his former gamekeeper returning two months after being replaced and sabotaging the game crops. He told a trial he recognised his former friend from his “mutton chop” sideburns and said the crop had “undoubtedly” been targeted.

Mr Campbell said he had hired David Campbell after buying the 4,000-acre estate in 1983. Over the following years they became “extremely close”.

However, their relationship deteriorated over a “disastrous” fox fence and the gamekeeper filling shoots with “ex-layer” birds, which were too exhausted to provide sport for shooting parties.

The court heard a deal was negotiated in February 2017 for the gamekeeper to be removed from his post.

In April last year, covert cameras filmed a man apparently spraying crops at around 2am on two occasions.

David Campbell, of Strathtay, Perthshire, denies maliciously damaging game crops. The trial continues.