Chef shot wild birds from his bedroom then posted film of killings online
A CHEF shot wild birds from his bedroom window before posting videos of his ‘kills’ on YouTube.
feng Shou Yin filmed himself blasting pigeons, blackbirds, a starling and a magpie with an air rifle and a ball bearing (BB) gun.
The 35-year-old, a member of the British Airgun Shooting Association, then bragged about his marksmanship by uploading the footage online.
But the clips were seen by the RSPCA and Yin was arrested by police at his home in Birmingham on October 14.
He has now been ordered to pay almost £2,000 after admitting nine charges under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
At Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday, chairman of the bench Shahnaz Hashmi told the chef he was ‘totally irresponsible’ using the weapons in a residential area. ‘You’re fortunate that you
‘It was quite exciting’
were able to get away with not having harmed anyone,’ she said.
The court heard Yin – who listened to the proceedings through an interpreter – killed two pigeons, two blackbirds, a starling and a magpie during his shooting spree between January and October last year. He attempted to kill three others.
But the restaurant chef, who worked in the city’s Chinese Quarter, told officers he was carrying out pest control and didn’t realise he was breaking the law.
Officers who raided his home found two air rifles, a BB gun and recording equipment.
They also discovered a plastic decoy pigeon which could have been used to attract birds – but Yin told officers he only used it for target practice.
Prosecutor rafe Turner described Yin’s deliberate destruction of wild birds’, adding: ‘What disturbs the RSPCA... is that these videos were being put on YouTube for public con- sumption, whether for gratification or for another purpose. He said at the beginning it was quite exciting and that he uploaded to keep a record for himself.’
The court heard Yin, who had no previous convictions, moved to the UK to find work more than six years ago and has a wife and young son in his native China. Albert Baker, defending, said: ‘The offence was committed through ignorance. What he did would not be illegal in his country.’ Yin, who could have been jailed for six months, admitted the offences last month.
At his sentencing yesterday he was fined £960 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £20. Yin’s £700 air rifle will be forfeited.