On 12th January 2009 at Dumfries Sheriff Court, part time gamekeeper Jonathon Charles Galbraith of Hightae, Lockerbie, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. These related to the illegal use of a spring trap against wild birds and animals listed under section 6 of the Act.
He was fined £1,400
On the 21st August 2008 the Scottish SPCA received an anonymous complaint that there was an injured bird in a trap at Kirkhill Farm near Dalton where Galbraith had sole responsibility for the management of a pheasant shoot.
The following day SSPCA officers visited Kirkhill Farm to look for the injured bird and subsequently discovered an un-set spring trap beside a dead pheasant poult next to an active pheasant release pen.
As officers widened their search of the area they were alerted to an approaching motor vehicle. They then observed Mr Galbraith set the spring trap and place it on top of the dead pheasant poult.
The officers approached Galbraith and interviewed him about the trap. He admitted setting the trap and claimed that “something” was killing his pheasants. Presumably he was referring to a raptor.
Spring traps are often illegally set in this manner or on top of posts to catch raptors and corvids by the legs.
Raptor Persecution UK 