Wildlife Crime | Yet more lenient sentencing
“A man found with a collection of almost 200 eggs has been sentenced today at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court. Terrance Potter, 63, was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, for offences relating to the taking and possession of wild birds’ eggs.” The RSPB Investigations Team are incredibly hard-working individuals. They do a difficult job because they love birds and want to do what they can to protect them. How frustrating must it be to prosecute a repeat egg thief like Terence Potter, who was caught with hundreds of bird eggs from a number of different protected bird species, many targeted precisely because of their rarity, to see him given a laughable 12-week sentence, suspended for 12 months and a paltry fine of £120 costs and £128 victim surcharge. Could our wildlife charities not ask their huge membership to campaign for change, to make sure that politicians understand that we want our wildlife protected from kleptomaniacs and serial law breakers. And if we can help in any way, please ask…
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