Pheasant shooting oil exec blasted buzzard from sky
Case of mistaken identity lands him with £500 fine
WILDLIFE police yesterday welcomed the conviction of a Scots oil executive who accidentally shot a protected bird of prey.
Keith Riddoch, of Aberdeen, blasted the buzzard with a shotgun during a shoot on a Highland estate.
The 65-year-old told his trial at Inverness Sheriff Court that he shot the raptor after mistaking it for a pheasant.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson convicted Riddoch of a contravention of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and fined him £500.
The buzzard was shot during an organised pheasant shoot in the Ralia area, near Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, on November 26 last year.
Wildlife crime officer Constable Daniel Sutherland said: “We welcome this conviction, which clearly shows the high expectations and standards police and the wider public have for firearms holders and those involved in game shooting.”
He added: “Any deviation from that will be fully investigated.
“Game bird shooting is a legal sport and brings jobs to the local economy. However, it’s fully expected that all participants conduct their activities to the highest standard.
“I’d like to thank the estate staff and all other witnesses involved in the incident for their co-operation during our investigation.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to remind all those involved in shooting, whether game birds or deer stalking, that there is a high expectation on not only shoot managers but also individuals to do it safely and responsibly.”