A gamekeeper from Dumfries and Galloway pleaded guilty to possession of illegal pesticides and killing a buzzard at Stranraer Sheriff Court on Monday (18 June).

Peter Finley Bell, from Newton Stewart, was fined £4,450 for poisoning the buzzard and possessing illegal pesticides after pleading guilty to a total of four breaches of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Bell, who worked on Glasserton and Phsygill Estates, killed the bird on 23 December 2012 at Glasserton Home Farm. He laced the carcass of a pheasant with Carbofuran, which he then left in a field.

The dying bird was found by a passing birdwatcher. Following forensic work, which revealed the buzzard had been poisoned, Bell's house was searched and police retrieved the banned poisons Carbofuran, Strychnine and Aphachloralose form his shed.

Craig Harris, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment, said on Monday, "The killing of this buzzard was considered and deliberate criminality. The laying of bait laced with Carbofuran was shockingly irresponsible conduct. It was compounded by the stocks of other illegal poisons that were kept."

He added, "The law protects wild birds and those who seek to poison them, or continue to possess stocks of illegal poison, can fully expect to be brought before the courts."