Says Blood on his hands

WE believe most of our readers oppose big game and trophy hunting. As animal lovers, Brits tend to be disgusted by the shooting of beautiful beasts for “sport”.

So while ex-gun expert Peter Jones may be doing nothing illegal, his trade in slaughter turns our stomachs.

He learned about firearms as a Metropolitan Police cop. There, the use of lethal force is the last resort.

Police are trained to avoid shooting to kill. Now it is Jones’ express purpose. For profit and fun.

That he uses this expertise, attained at public expense, to butcher magnificent zebras, bears and elk is unsettling at the very least.

His clients can be heard laughing hysterically as one animal falls off a cliff and breaks its neck as it flees in terror from the hunters. Nice people.

Jones’ firm organises £10,000 trips to shoot rhinos. They use darts and the animals survive, but not before they are manhandled for triumphant photos.

Hunters like Jones use the excuse that they are helping conservation and “controlling” species. Don’t believe a word. They don’t spend all that money because they love animals. They do it because they love killing.

Our revelations come in the week that the Government is consulting on possible plans to ban the import and export of animal trophies.

It’s a great cause and the deadline to take part is this Tuesday.

Have a look at the website, consider the evidence on both sides. And register your view.