Gamekeeper threatened with jail
21 August 2008 - BBC News
A gamekeeper has been warned he could be jailed after admitting killing
buzzards and badgers to protect the pheasants he was looking after. Kyle Burden, 19, of Lydbury North, Shropshire, had admitted nine offences at
an earlier hearing at Ludlow Magistrates' Court. They happened during 2007 at the Kempton Estate near Bishop's Castle.
Burden was granted bail and is expected to be sentenced at Telford
Magistrates' Court in September. Magistrates decided not to transfer the case to crown court for sentencing.
They had been told that Burden, who worked on the 6,000-acre estate, used a
shotgun to kill buzzards in May and July last year.
Phil Mason, prosecuting, said two whistleblowers, who also worked on the
estate, reported what Burden had been doing. Mr Mason said: "One of them was employed during May last year and he
witnessed Mr Burden shooting a number of buzzards and attempting to shoot a
number of buzzards. At the end of this particular witness's term of employment he was so
disturbed by what he saw that he reported the matter. Independently of that witness, another witness came forward and that witness
too saw similar things."
It then prompted an investigation by the RSPB, and Burden initially denied
any wrongdoing, he added.
Burden pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to killing two buzzards,
attempting to kill a third bird, and to killing two badgers. He also admitted setting illegal traps, possessing a shotgun while committing
two of the offences, and asked for six other offences to be taken into
consideration.
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