A topical story given today’s discussions…
A Scottish trout farmer has been convicted of illegally trapping a heron by using spring traps. Simon Duffin, 61, of Morrinton, was convicted at Dumfries Sheriff Court yesterday and was fined £1,500. He admitted recklessly injuring the bird in a trap likely to cause injury to a wild bird, and setting in position a trap likely to cause bodily injury to any animal at Cargenglen Trout Farm in Dumfries. (Surely not the same Simon Duffin mentioned here offering worldwide advice on all aspects of trout farming?).
A member of the public found the injured heron in the water with a Fenn spring trap around its leg. The bird’s injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanised.
Well done to the SSPCA (again) for a successful prosecution and special mention should go to the Procurator Fiscal Pamela Rhodes. Now if only Pamela had been given that third wildlife crime specialist spot that she apparently applied for at COPFS last year….
SSPCA press release here
Raptor Persecution UK 
Yes, well done to the SSPCA. Love to seem involved in more wildlife crime investigations.
Good work by the SSPCA. But a £1500 fine is surely a pittance for Mr Duffin?
£1500 fine is a pittance but at least he now has a criminal record which may hinder him in his business. Well done to the SSPCA would like to see them more involved, they seem to get a better result than the police do.
I’d like to think that having this offence recorded against him would hinder his business, but to be honest I doubt it will make a jot of difference, more’s the pity.
Agree with you about the SSPCA and would like to see them given greater powers in relation to wildlife crime.