Keeper put remains of birds of prey down well
AGAMEKEEPER has admitted disposing of numerous dead birds of prey down an eightmetre deep well on a 1,000-acre farm.
Archie Watson, 21, pleaded guilty to possessing the dead birds on the basis that he disposed of three red kites, five buzzards and a gull.
Three further charges of killing four red kites, 11 buzzards and a herring or lesser black-backed gull were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Watson also pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the illegal storage of a shotgun and its ammunition, which were left insecure in a pick-up truck.
Magistrates in Swindon yesterday heard that in August 2020 the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds launched a covert investigation after receiving a tip-off about a gamekeeper at Galtee More Farm, near Avebury, Wiltshire, killing birds of prey and throwing their remains into a well.
Prosecuting, Ashley Petchey said an investigation team from the bird conservation charity attended the farm and installed hidden cameras around the well.
Footage recorded by the cameras showed a man attending the site on numerous occasions, and on August 12 a man was captured placing a buzzard into the well.
Wiltshire Police were informed and were able to identify him as Watson.
Armed with video footage, the force obtained a search warrant under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Supported by the RSPB, Natural England and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, it raided two separate addresses linked to Watson – including Galtee More Farm – in September 2020.
Specially trained rescue personnel entered the well and recovered numerous remains of birds. As well as the protected red kites, buzzards and gull, dead pheasants were also located.
In custody, Watson told officers that the buzzard he was recorded putting into the well was found dead under a tree.
Mr Petchey said the birds’ cause of death could not be ascertained, although two of the buzzards located in the well did have metal inside them.
Andy Lee, defending, said his client, of Dragon Lane, Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire, wished to make it clear he never caused unnecessary suffering or killed any birds or animals and there was “no evidence he has done so”.
He said Watson “came into possession of those birds after they have died” having discovered their bodies on the farm’s land.
He said the birds were disposed of in the well after their death to “prevent the spread of disease”.
He added that there was “no evidence he had personally persecuted” the birds.
Mr Lee said Watson, who was 19 at the time of the offences, accepted he breached the terms of his firearms licence but labelled them “negligent breaches” as a result of becoming “complacent in his job”.
He described the defendant as having had a “difficult and stressful” time as a result of this case “hanging over him for a significant amount of time”, adding that he had “learnt his lesson”.
Chair of the bench, Peter Wells, said the number of birds located in the well was “surprising”, adding that the firearms offences were “more serious”, given the public had legal or illegal access to the area.
The bench imposed a 12-month community order. Watson must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £393 costs and a £95 surcharge.
He had his firearms certificate revoked ahead of the court hearing.
But despite the prosecution’s application for forfeiture and destruction of the firearm and ammunition, the court did not grant the order.