Former gamekeeper convicted of bird poisoning

Deliberately targeted buzzards to protect estate's game birds

January 2012: A former gamekeeper has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service after admitting to poisoning four buzzards.

POISONED: A buzzard killed by Whitefield

David Alexander Whitefield, 45, was sentenced for killing the protected birds of prey while working as a gamekeeper at the Culter Allers Estate in South Lanarkshire in 2009.

On passing sentence, Sheriff Nicola Stewart said the punishment was a direct alternative to a custodial sentence and that poisoning was a serious offence.

Whitefield pleaded guilty to intentionally misusing highly poisonous chemicals to kill three common buzzards between April and November 2009 in order to protect game birds at Culter Allers Farm near Biggar.

During an earlier hearing, Whitefield claimed he was under pressure from his superiors to reduce the buzzard population ‘as he saw fit', although he had not been specifically told to kill them or engage in illegal activity.

Inspectors from the Scottish SPCA's Special Investigations Unit found enough poison to kill approximately 8,000 birds when they searched outbuildings at the farm in a multi-agency investigation with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) and RSPB Scotland.

Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: ‘The systematic targeting and poisoning of birds of prey for the protection of game birds is a serious wildlife crime that is extremely difficult to identify and prove.
‘We are therefore delighted that Whitefield has been convicted of this offence. In addition to receiving a community service order, Whitefield now has a criminal record and has also lost his job and his home as a result of his crime.'

‘His actions were deliberate, cruel and reckless'
‘Not only were his actions deliberate and cruel, but the manner in which the poisons were stored and used was extremely reckless.

‘A rabbit carcass which had been laced with chloralose, a highly poisonous substance, was left uncovered and in an open area of countryside, which presented a serious and significant danger to persons, companion animals and other wildlife.'

Speaking after the sentencing Bob Elliott, head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland said: ‘We are pleased that Mr Whitefield's actions have been viewed as a serious crime by the courts. We would like to commend Scottish SPCA for their hard work in ensuring this case resulted in a conviction. This sentence is a reminder that the illegal practise of poisoning protected birds of prey will not be tolerated.'

The conviction is Whitefield's second for wildlife offences. On October 1, 2008 at Lanark Sheriff Court, Whitefield pleaded guilty to trapping a buzzard for at least 48 hours, and failing to meet its needs while it was in the trap. This was the first conviction involving a wild bird under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2008. He was fined £300.