In court, teenager who made thousands hawking stuffed animals on eBay
A TEENAGER has been prosecuted for selling stuffed animals and birds’ eggs on the Internet site eBay in what is thought to be the first case of its kind. Mark Rowland sold a black bear and buzzard online and had a stuffed sparrow hawk, kestrel and numerous owls at his house, alongside eggs and animal skins.
Analysis of a computer discovered when police raided his home in April showed the 19-year- old had been trading in wildlife taxidermy for around a year, with eBay records revealing 160 purchases and 230 sales.
But Rowland – who is estimated to have made at least £5,000 – did not have all the paperwork to show he had bought or sold the items lawfully.
Yesterday Rowland, of Hilborough, Norfolk, admitted 11 offences relating to trade in wildlife and
coyote skin and asked for a taxidermy at Swaffham Magistrates’
number of other offences to be Court.
taken into consideration. The
These included selling the
court heard that in the UK birds bear, keeping numerous birds of
of prey are given the highest prey for sale and placing an
protection under the Convention advertisement indicating he of the International Trade would sell wild birds’ eggs.
of Endangered Species and
He also admitted attempting
records are needed to show the to obtain money by deception
sale or purchase was lawful. through eBay by advertising a
Nicholas Crampton, prosecuting, wolf skin for sale when it was a said: ‘It is quite clear from the e-mail chatter that he was aware of the existence of restrictions and the need to have various documents which would legitimise the sale and purchase and had been willing to take items off eBay because of a number of problems in selling various taxidermy items that require known paperwork.’
He went on: ‘He is believed to be the first substantial Internet trader who has been brought before the courts in respect of wildlife trading.’ Jonathan Dunne, mitigating, said Rowland, a plumber, shared his interest in taxidermy with his parents who had stuffed items at home.
‘ It is not necessarily the case that all of his trade was illegal. If he had the proper certificates it would have been legal,’ he added.
Sentencing was adjourned for reports.