£1,500 fine for setting trap
October 2012. A man has been convicted of illegally trapping
a heron following a joint investigation with the Scottish SPCA and Dumfries and
Galloway Police.
Simon Duffin, 61, of Morrinton, admitted recklessly injuring
the bird in a trap, setting in position a trap likely to cause injury to a wild
bird and setting in position a trap likely to cause bodily injury to any
animal, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, at Cargenglen Trout
Farm. Duffin was fined £1,500.
A member of the public discovered the injured heron in water
with a fenn spring trap (Spring loaded trap) around its leg. Unfortunately,
this had resulted in such a severe injury that the kindest and only humane
option was for the bird to be put to sleep to end any further suffering.
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, "We
welcome the fact that Duffin now has a criminal conviction for these serious
offences. Duffin had set four fenn traps at the side of a fish pond and they
were not tunnelled as required by law. The heron was caused a great deal of
pain, suffering and distress as a result. We would like to thank Dumfries and
Galloway Police for their assistance in this investigation and Procurator
Fiscal Pamela Rhodes for her determination in pursuing this case."
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