The case against John Winn Roberts, 43, of Woodend Meadow, Ballymagorry, Strabane, Northern Ireland, who was accused of intentionally injuring a wild bird (shooting a buzzard) on the Isle of Wight last November, was finally heard yesterday after several adjournments at the Isle of Wight magistrates court (see here and here).
He pled guilty to shooting a buzzard and was fined £400 plus costs (maximum penalty available for this type of offence is £5,000 and/or a 6 month prison sentence).
Putting aside the pathetic sentence, well done to Hampshire Constabulary, RSPCA and the quarry company Barton Vectis for getting this case to court.
We haven’t yet seen any media reports about this conviction.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Yes, the Hampshire Constabulary, RSPCA and Barton Vectis fully deserve our thanks, but I wonder whether they will bother again, given the trouble they had to go to in order to get a conviction? And as for the pathetic sentence, my comment is unprintable! Magistrates – please wake up to the seriousness of such crimes before birds of prey join the Dodo and Great Auk..