A cruel Scots gamekeeper has been fined leaving two birds to starve to death in a trap.
Peter Givens, from Stow in Galashiels, was fined £300 after pleading guilty to a charge under Section 1(1)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
The 53-year-old was found to have left an owl and a goshawk to die in a cage registered to him.
The court heard that on the morning of 23 September 2020 a multi crow cage trap was found on the edge of woodland at Cathpair Farm.
The trap was found to contain two dead birds.
The trap identification number attached to the cage was registered to Givens.
Both birds died of a combination of dehydration, starvation and exposure to the weather while being trapped in the cage.
Trap licence conditions state that when in use, all traps must be checked at least once every day at intervals of no more than 24 hours.
These checks must be sufficient to determine whether there are any live or dead birds or other animals in the trap and that any dead or sickly bird must be removed immediately from the trap.
Court bosses said the birds had been dead for some considerable time.
Fiona Caldwell, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment, said: “Peter Givens reckless actions and his failure to release these birds unharmed led to their suffering and deaths.
“Wild birds are given strict protection under our wildlife laws and COPFS will continue to prosecute such cases where appropriate to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.”
