Gamekeeper admits 'brutal' killing of rare bird of prey

A gamekeeper who clubbed a protected bird of prey to death in Perthshire has been fined and ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Russell Mason, 49, caught the goshawk in a net and then used a cosh to bludgeon it in February 2024.

At Perth Sheriff Court, Mason admitted killing the bird of prey, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and fined £850.

The RSPB welcomed the conviction, but expressed disappointment at the penalty.

The court was shown footage of Mason killing the bird in a crow cage trap, which had been filmed during a surveillance operation.

Fiscal depute Karon Rollo told the court that goshawks are a rare bird of prey.

She said RSPB staff reviewed camera footage and became aware of a male visiting the trap on 12 February 2024.

"At this time there was a goshawk and a crow in the trap," the prosecutor said.

"The male opened and entered the trap. After entering he used a hand-held net to capture the goshawk and put it to the ground.

"He then struck the bird six times with a cosh. He placed the bird into a carrier bag, rolled it up and put the package under his arm.

"He left the trap, placed the net in the back of the vehicle and the bag in the cab. He locked the trap and drove off."

Police were able to identify the man as Mason.

An avian vet specialising in raptors was shown the footage, and said the goshawk had looked healthy.

He said it was quite obviously not killed outright with one blow.

Mason admitted intentionally or recklessly killing the goshawk on Cochrage Moor, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire.

He also admitted breaching the terms of his firearms certificate by failing to store ammunition securely at Milton of Drimmie, Bridge of Cally.

The court was told that Mason had resigned from his position as an estate gamekeeper and had lost his tied cottage home.

Solicitor Paul Anderson, defending, said he had also lost his shotgun licence and was now looking for a new career.

Anderson said: "His position is that he became frustrated. He walks into the trap. His position is that the goshawk had found its way into the trap on four separate occasions and on this occasion he lost his temper.

"This was a legitimate trap. What is unlawful is the killing. He appears to have demonstrated a significant degree of remorse and regret for his actions."

Sheriff Mark Thorley told Mason: "I can't quite understand why you did what you did and only you will know. Having seen the video I am non-plussed as to why the door was not simply opened to allow the bird to fly out.

"This is a bird you, as a gamekeeper, will have been aware is a very limited species, which has recovered from extinction here and to destroy a bird like that I cannot understand."

RSPB investigations manager Ian Thomson said: "We welcome the conviction of Mr Mason and are pleased that our video evidence was again key in detecting a crime against one of our rarest raptors and in securing this result.

"We are, however, disappointed that the penalty imposed will have little in the way of a deterrent effect on others considering committing similar offences."

Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, added: "Russell Mason's brutal and wholly unnecessary actions resulted in the suffering and death of a rare and magnificent bird of prey."