English egg collector jailed for fourth time

CRIME: Golden eagle eggs were among those found in Gomshaw's flat. Picture: Chris Gomersall / rspb.image.com

Had eggs from golden eagles, osprey, avocets and red kites

December 2011: Britain's most imprisoned egg collector has been jailed yet again.

Forty-nine-year-old Matthew Gonshaw, of Bow in East London, has extended his infamy for being Britain's most imprisoned egg collector by being sentenced to yet another jail term, this time for six months, following conviction for stealing and possessing wild birds eggs, including those of some of the rarest and most threatened birds in the UK.

Gonshaw, who has already been jailed on three previous occasions for similar offences, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court earlier this month to ten charges.

Gonshaw's home was raided by officers from the Metropolitan Police and RSPB Investigations unit in June. Nearly 700 eggs were found at the premises.

'This man is obsessed'
Gonshaw faced ten charges, including taking five golden eagle eggs and 12 avocet eggs from the wild, and possessing eggs from specially-protected species, including: seven golden eagle eggs; eight osprey eggs; 12 avocet eggs; three peregrine eggs; three red kite eggs; and 12 eggs of other specially protected species.

Mark Thomas is an investigations officer with the RSPB who has been working on this case. He said: ‘We believe the introduction of custodial sentences in 2001 for the most serious wildlife crime cases has forced most of Britain 's egg collectors to throw in the towel.

‘But it is clear that Gonshaw's obsession drives him to target the rarest birds in Britain where the prospects of jail or depriving the country of threatened species are simply dismissed.'

'He has plundered nearly 700 eggs'
PC Stephen Rodgers, of the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘We hope that this result here at court sends a clear message that - together with our partners from the RSPB - we will work to protect Britain's birds for future generations. Gonshaw's actions directly jeopardise Britain's wildlife and his obsession with collecting eggs threatens some of Britain s rarest and most precious species.'

The RSPB's Brian Etheridge has been monitoring Scotland's birds of prey for the Society for 20 years. Commenting on the sentence, he said: ‘Birds like ospreys have travelled thousands of miles from Africa to lay their single clutch of eggs. But egg collectors like Gonshaw can bring all that year's effort to an end in a single act of selfish obsession.'

Becky Owen, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service in London , said: ‘Matthew Gonshaw's criminal actions caused untold damage to wildlife in the UK . He has plundered nearly 700 eggs, including some from endangered species such as golden eagles and ospreys.'