Weeting man Francis Addison, 72, avoids jail after five goshawks were found dumped in Kings Forest close to Bury St Edmunds
A 72-year-old man has avoided jail after five young goshawks were discovered dumped in a parking area.
Francis Addison, of South Park, Weeting, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, today after pleading guilty to 19 offences, including numerous breaches of firearms licence conditions, at Norfolk Magistrates' Court today.
The full charges were:
► Five counts of possession of a dead goshawk.
► One count of killing a wood pigeon.
►One count of use of an animal trap in circumstance for which it is not approved.
► Two counts of possession of an article capable of being used to commit a summary offence, namely two air rifles and six animal traps.
►Six counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a firearm certificate.
► Four counts of failing to comply with the condition of a shotgun certificate.
The court heard the rare goshawks, which are a protected species, were discovered by Forestry Engliand on January 16, in a parking off the B1106, near Kings Forest, Wordwell, near Bury St Edmunds.
X-rays showed all five birds suffered injuries from multiple pieces of shot.
Officers arrested Addison on March 27 after his DNA was discovered on one of the birds.
Following a search of his home, he was also arrested suspicion of breaching firearms licence conditions after air rifles, shotguns and ammunition were discovered at his home in unsecured cupboards, in his car and coat pockets.
Police also discovered an animal trap for which use had not been approved.
Magistrates heard that Addison, a former military firearms instructor and part-time gamekeeper, told police that he had found the goshawks while walking his dog, at the same spot they were later found dumped.
He said he took them home with the intention of putting them in the freezer and taking them to the British Trust for Ornithology in Thetford.
But when a friend told him it was also illegal to be in possession of the birds, he “panicked” and took them back.
The court heard that birds of prey being shot by gamekeepers is a growing problem in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Defending, solicitor Lisa Robinson, said there was no evidence to suggest Addison has killed the birds, something which he has denied throughout, and had only pleaded guilty to possession.
“He has not contributed to the problem we see today,” she said.
Relating to the unsecured weapons and ammunition at his home, she said that Addison had arrived home late the night before the search was conducted by police, had intended to clean one of the firearms the morning. With regard to the further licence condition breaches, he had simply become “complacent”.
She said Addison felt as he lived in a rural location where there was “no chance of anyone getting to them”.
Addison, described as a man of previous good character, admitted killing the wood pigeon and possessing the trap.
The court heard was “unaware” of the laws surrounding these.
When the goshawks were first discovered, the RSPB offered a £5,000 reward for information which led to a conviction.
All birds of prey are protected by law.
To kill or injure one could result in jail time and/or an unlimited fine.
The investigation involved a search of the suspect’s premises by Suffolk and Norfolk Constabularies, assisted by RSPB Investigations and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Tom Grose, investigations officer for the RSPB said that gamekeepers killing birds of prey was a growing problem and there had been 84 confirmed cases in Norfolk and 34 in Suffolk since 2000.
Chief magistrate, Mary Wyndham, said the offences were dealt with in their “totality” and that they were so “serious” the justified a custodial sentence.
However due to Addison’s age and health, this was suspended.
She said that the licence condition breaches posed serious potential harm to others and members of the public.
She said that given Addison’s background in the military and his years as a game keeper, he “should have known better”, and that he had treated his licence conditions “almost to the level of disdain”.
Addison was also ordered to pay £1,080 compensation costs for the cost of the examinations of the goshawks, court costs of £105. and a surcharge of £154.
His firearms, ammunition and traps were also to be forfeited.
Mark Thomas, UK head of investigations at the RSPB said: "Goshawks are an exhilarating apex predator, so it was both shocking and appalling to see images of the five shot birds discarded in the Breckland Forest car park, we applaud the efforts and professionalism of Suffolk Police in deploying key forensic techniques that have led to court charges in this case.
"In 2021, two-thirds of all confirmed UK raptor persecution incidents happened in connection with land used for gamebird shooting, faced with huge public displeasure there is increasingly no place to hide for those who commit these crimes’.
Sergeant Brian Calver, of Suffolk Constabulary’s Rural and Wildlife Crime team, said: “This is a particularly disturbing case. Bird of prey crime is a national wildlife crime priority, which is taken very seriously by police. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuing criminals that cause deliberate harm to wildlife.
"This incident has had a significant impact on the Goshawk population in the Brecks and in particular their ability to expand their territory. As well as possessing dead schedule one birds, Addison has shown a complete disregard for the security of his guns, which is equally concerning.”
He went on to say “We welcome today’s outcome and I hope the sentence imposed sends a strong message to others that are involved in this type of criminality. We’ll continue to work closely with partners to ensure such crimes become a thing of the past.”
