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| 'Worst' bird of prey poisoner Allen Lambert given suspended sentence | 'Worst' bird of prey poisoner Allen Lambert given suspended sentence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A gamekeeper convicted of "the worst case of bird of prey poisoning" recorded in England has been given a 10-week suspended sentence. | A gamekeeper convicted of "the worst case of bird of prey poisoning" recorded in England has been given a 10-week suspended sentence. |
| Allen Lambert, 65, who worked on the Stody Estate, near Holt in Norfolk, was found guilty of deliberately killing 10 buzzards and a sparrowhawk. | Allen Lambert, 65, who worked on the Stody Estate, near Holt in Norfolk, was found guilty of deliberately killing 10 buzzards and a sparrowhawk. |
| Head of RSPB investigations Bob Elliot said the discovery of the carcasses at Lambert's home was "truly dreadful". | Head of RSPB investigations Bob Elliot said the discovery of the carcasses at Lambert's home was "truly dreadful". |
| Norwich Magistrates' Court heard he did it to protect pheasants he was rearing. | Norwich Magistrates' Court heard he did it to protect pheasants he was rearing. |
| In October Lambert was also found guilty of possessing pesticides and items used to prepare poison baits. He had pleaded guilty to five other charges including illegal use of pesticides. | In October Lambert was also found guilty of possessing pesticides and items used to prepare poison baits. He had pleaded guilty to five other charges including illegal use of pesticides. |
| His 10-week sentence was suspended for a year and he was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £930. | His 10-week sentence was suspended for a year and he was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £930. |
| 'Tricky fox' | |
| Birds of prey are protected by law and the Stody Estate has been a national pioneer in wildlife enhancement schemes. | |
| The RSPB said it was the worst bird of prey poisoning case it had seen in England and was one of the worst to ever occur in the UK. | The RSPB said it was the worst bird of prey poisoning case it had seen in England and was one of the worst to ever occur in the UK. |
| The hearing at Norwich Magistrates' Court followed an investigation at the game shooting estate in April 2013 by RSPB officers. | |
| They found the remains of several birds of prey in woodland and a feed bag containing nine dead buzzards in Lambert's house. | |
| Analysis of the remains found 11 birds had been poisoned. | |
| Police found containers of the pesticide in Lambert's car and storeroom, as well as a syringe and needles. | |
| During the trial Lambert claimed a dog walker with a grudge against him had planted the dead birds, but the district judge said his theory was "implausible". | |
| Earlier the court was told that Mr Lambert still says he was not responsible for the death of the birds and he only kept the poisons to deal with "a tricky fox". | |
| The management at the Stody Estate say they were shocked and saddened by the turn of events. |