Further to the blog post last week (see here), Allan Armistead appeared at Furness & District magistrates court today, charged with a string of offences relating to illegal pesticide storage and firearms offences.
He pled guilty to the following charges:
Possession of a firearm (believed to be a rifle) without a certificate
Storing the pesticide Cymag
Storing the pesticide Sodium Cyanide
Storing Strychnine Hydrochloride
Storing Degesch Phostoxin
Storing Aluminium Phosphide
Storing Phosdrin + Phosdrin 24
Storing Lindex with HCH seed dressing
Possessing firearm ammunition
Failing to disclose possession of ownership of 3 x 12 bore side by side shotguns.
Armistead (74), of Hulleter Farm, Oxen Park, Ulverston, Cumbria, will appear at Lancaster Crown Court on 6 January 2012 for sentencing.
Three charges against Armistead were withdrawn, relating to the possession of shotguns without a certificate.
Armistead pled not guilty to three charges:
Storing pesticide Sodium Cyanide
Storing Strychnine Hydrochloride
Storing Lead Arsenate
Armistead will appear back at Furness & District Magistrates Court on 31 January 2012, where a date will be set for his case to be continued at Crown Court.
Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, no charges were brought for the killing of red kites. Armistead was released on unconditional bail until his next court appearance on 6 January 2012. Very well done, Cumbria Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service!
Story at North West Evening Mail here
Raptor Persecution UK 
Probably no proof for the kite killing.
Come 6Jjan we’ll see what paltry sentence get’s handed out.
Good news about the conviction, though.
Quote: “Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, no charges were brought for the killing of red kites”.
Strange how wildlife crime is not considered serious enough to warrant charges being brought ?
Other than being charged with possessing illegal substances, (which could have been used for laying out poisoned baits), the outcome of this trial will have little relevance in regards to Raptor Persecution. An opportunity missed, or was it planned that way?
Why do you think it’s got anything to do with wildlife crime not being considered serious enough? How about it being to do with the difficulty of getting evidence for incidents that took place months prior to the police raid? Give them some credit for Christ’s sake – they were able to bring all those charges and remove from circulation illegal pesticides, other poisonous substances, and illegal firearms and ammunition, AND get a series of convictions for offences that are so serious he has to be sentenced at crown court. Job well done.
I understand that the difficulty lies in the standard of proof required. It is not sufficient to find the suspect in possession of the same type of poison used, but it has to be proved that the poison actually came from the batch held by the suspect. Clearly that is very onerous to the police and prosecutors.
Last I read Rosanna Cunningham intended to relax the standard of proof needed as part of the vicarious liability proposals (not help Cumbria unfortunately).
He should get a jail sentence just for the firearm charges alone. Possession of a Rifle should be the most serious offence. Just think back to Dunblane and Cumbria. If he had a certificate in the past the police should have been at his door wanting to know if he still had the firearm, and if he still had it,why was he not holding an up to date certificate.
Maybe somebody has been a bit lax in checking up on who has not renewed firearm certificates, assuming that there was a certificate in the fist place.
Yes, the firearms aspect is the most serious here and does, IMO, warrant being sent down – esp if a licence has not been held. Police should be sending out reminders when firearms/shotgun certs are due for renewal and detailing what the options are if renewal is not required. Failure to reply should result in a visit and, if need be, consfication of weapons.
I hope they dont loose site of the kites- after all he was not only in breach of fire-arms offences (possesion, storage etc) but [if – added by Ed] he was actively using them for illegal purposes surely this must compound the crime?
He hasn’t been charged with actively using them for illegal purposes, only for possession and storage; it’s an important distinction.
Its like inventions…no one ever invented anything without trying it out…there’s no distinction, beings he held these poisons he xxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxxxxxxxx xxx xxxx xx xxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx xx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx x xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxx xxxx xx xx [Ed: Deleted. You cannot make a comment like that against a named individual without evidence to support it]…no hope for Scotland’s animals if this attitude prevails in our informed and experienced elders. We all know Pheasants and Grouse rule in Scotland or should we say cash for the privilege of exterminating it…
Some example being shown by caring farmers many claiming grants for the care of the environment and keepers who it goes without saying should be re-titled as killers, I think everything they are involved in ends up with killing till such as the great man Peter Scott, he got too old to continue and end up protecting the very wildlife I think he blasted the life out of in Dumfrieshire for years…I knew him well… Luckily it all worked out in the end for the benefit of wildlife.
Keepers, Nice people…have a drink near them in the local…watch them and listen, all I see and hear is boasting of what they have killed/destroyed in the interest of the countryside and of course the in Vogue terminology, for the the breeding waders etc, oh yeh? and of course with the obvious pound signs in there eyes plus the built urge to kill the next roadside deer by illegal lamping, try to see one one during daylight these days in this area….I think most modern keepers sadly these days are regular villains getting away with it and we all know it, we all see it and can become naturally frustrated when the the law does very little about it…WHY ? I think quite a few Police go on the shoots these days…now there’s a surprise…better not drive to the pub now I suppose… If you hold illegal poisons and kill wildlife…suffer the consequences I say..no messing with these guys, just imagine what have they killed over the years??? We have thebare remnants of wildlife here in Scotland and nothing more due to sustained persecution.
Argyll is a black hole for raptors and creatures protected or not…but who really cares?
I wonder, if Mr Allan Armistead ever worked for the predator and Vermin control brigade in his working days.