Press release from North Yorkshire Police (30 June 2023):
MAN SENTENCED AFTER DEATH OF BARN OWL NEAR SCARBOROUGH
A man has been sentenced after the death of an owl that was trapped on an allotment plot in Hunmanby.
On 8 April 2023, a dog walker discovered a badly-injured adult Barn Owl caught in a spring-operated trap in the allotments at Sands Lane, Hunmanby. Despite the bird being rescued and taken to a vet, the injuries to its legs were so severe that it had to be euthanized.
When spoken to by police, the tenant of the plot, Leslie Shooter, 57, stated that he had set a number of traps to control rats. However, he had not covered the traps as required by law, resulting in the trapping of the bird.
Barn Owls are particularly susceptible to disturbance and human interference. They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection. The species is also an early breeder, with a typical season being March to September, so any issues affecting adult breeding birds during this time brings additional risks to dependant eggs and young.
Spring-operated traps, often referred to as ‘Fenn’ traps, can be legally operated in the UK, but their use and target species is strictly controlled by legislation. Potential offences include use whilst uncovered, neglect in checking and use to capture wild birds.
Following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police, Shooter was charged with using an animal trap in circumstances for which it is not approved, causing a trap to be set to cause injury to a wild bird and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
After pleading guilty at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 29 June 2023, Shooter was sentenced to a community order with 100 hours’ unpaid work requirement, as well as £199 of costs and surcharges.
PC Graham Bilton, Wildlife Crime Officer for North Yorkshire Police, who investigated the incident alongside the RSPCA, said: “Raptor persecution is a national wildlife priority but unfortunately despite the legal protection offered to these birds it continues to be a problem throughout the UK.
“The incident in question, which resulted in the tragic death of the barn owl, could have been avoided had the defendant used the traps in a responsible and lawful way.”
Geoff Edmond, RSPCA Inspectorate Wildlife Lead, said: “This has been a very distressing incident and I would like to thank the member of the public who took this Barn Owl to the vet even though sadly – due to its horrific injuries – it could not be saved.
“I believe this incident will have caused upset and concern for the community of Hunmanby, many of whom will have enjoyed watching this Barn Owl.
“By correct training in and knowledge of the use of this trap, this death should not have occurred. I would urge anyone using traps to ensure they are fully conversant with the legislation surrounding them.
“I am grateful that the RSPCA continues to work in partnership with North Yorkshire Police to tackle wildlife and rural crime.”
Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations, added: “Raptor persecution is a national issue, impacting on a range of threatened species including public favourites like the Barn Owl, which in this case was inexcusably trapped in a heinous manner. Our thanks go to North Yorkshire Police for bringing this case to justice and highlighting the issue.”
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
My god it could just as easily been a child’s fingers cat dog well you name it these people are just so uncaring he has actually killed his best helper when it comes to rats.
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I am so sick of the judiciary giving out light sentences for heinous crimes. What does a wildlife criminal have to do to get a jail sentence? It is across the whole litany of crimes regarding wildlife.
The only people to get custodial sentences are the plebs: hare coursers, dog fighters and badger baiters, but if it is associated with the criminal acts of the rich or carried out on their behalf, it’s a slap on the wrist! Compare the sentence given after the trial over the Norfolk Goshawks with that handed out to Terrence Johnston who killed two Herring Gulls in Sunderland: he got jail, a pathetic 16 weeks, but at least it was jail. Why wasn’t Allen Lambert, or any of the other cohort of criminal gamekeepers, jailed? Because of bias in the judiciary: the old boys / girls network, peer-group associations or aspirations, It is a disgrace.
It takes time and education to change the insight, understanding and behaviour for people with little knowledge of the area. I view this as a tragedy and in a very different light than the systematic targeting of raptors that occurs on Driven Grouse Moors and Pheasant Shoots as a method of increasing their income.
It can’t simply be assumed that the level of knowledge in this case led to the law being willfully ignored.
Both RSPB & Wildlife Trusts must Actively campaign for a complete ban on all of these traps & snares, together with an unequivocal stance AGAINST ALL bird shooting bloodsports – there’s NEVER a reason to #KillForKicks
This was a horrific injury to the owl, a beautiful bird. I would question whether a rat deserves to suffer the pain and distress of these vile traps. Just plain cruel.
Exactly Kath. One rule for the rich & powerful, another for the plebs. Same with the seen/attractive animals and not for the unseen animals designated as “vermin” like moles and rats.
A Community order is not a sentence. What is, is £1,000 + one month prison for every bird killed. Whether pleading guilty or not.
Stiffer sentences Must be made, as so many just get a slapped wrist, “Now don’t be a naughty boy.”
Another pathetic sentence ! Time for these barbaric traps to be banned.
If (and to me that’s a big if) his defence was really truthful – that he was genuinely trying to catch rats – and if he believed that setting them uncovered in the open was the way to do it, then he must be an idiot. But his defence may be the truth, there are no shortage of idiots which is why either way rat / stoat / squirrel traps of all kinds should be made unavailable for sale as a single item, and illegal to use except as a complete unit within a bespoke manufacturer made tunnel designed for the job.
You are right. There are a lot of unanswered questions with this incident, and I wonder what caused or encouraged the barn owl to land on the trap?
I fully agree with your comments that any trap should only be sold as a complete unit within a bespoke manufacturer made tunnel to prevent non target species being killed or maimed, and to ensure target species are correctly guided onto the trap to ensure the most humane death possible.
I agree. Ithink all traps should have a licence attached and only people who have done a short course in trap management should be allowed to own 1. This man should have had the trap taken away as he clearly doesn’t seem to know what he is doing and a trap like this should never be allowed just to sit there out in the open. what had he baited the trap with?
My partner and I removed a fenn trap off a lambs leg years ago when we first moved to the area, it took my partners strength to open the fenn trap shattered foreleg of lamb. Reported it to RSPCA lamb was badly injured fenn traps are not for catching rats they are serious business set by gamekeepers to trap anything, they came to my door to retrieve the trap. You can imagine what emitted from my mouth . Like you say it could have been a child or pet but they are barbaric for any animal . Again these perpetrators should be dealt with properly and seriously.
What an absolutely brainless idiot. Unbelievable that he apparently put traps out with no protection. It would have been easy enough to check the requirements by looking on the internet, albeit that you would have thought that it was self-evident..