Further to today’s news that gamekeeper Racster Dingwall has pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill a Hen Harrier on the Conistone & Grassington Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire Police has issued the following statement:
MAN SENTENCED FOR BIRD OF PREY PERSECUTION OFFENCES ON GRASSINGTON MOOR
A man has been sentenced for trying to kill a legally-protected bird, following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police.
The case against Racster Dingwall for encouraging or assisting bird of prey persecution, using the Serious Crime Act 2007, is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.
In October 2024, a covert camera placed by the RSPB captured footage of three men on Grassington Moor, using radios and speaking in code to discuss shooting towards and killing wild birds, including hen harriers.
The recording was passed to North Yorkshire Police, and an investigation was launched by the force’s Rural Taskforce.
The footage was processed by technicians at the Regional Scientific Support Services, and an expert from the National Wildlife Crime Unit was called in to interpret it.
This analysis showed that one of the men – later identified as gamekeeper Racster Dingwall – was in possession of a semi-automatic shotgun for the sole purpose of killing a hen harrier.
Dingwall, 35, from Ellingstring, was interviewed by Rural Taskforce officers, and subsequently charged with encouraging or assisting the killing of a Schedule 1 wild bird (contrary to Sections 45 and 58 of the Serious Crime Act 2007); and possessing a shotgun for the purpose of killing a Schedule 1 wild bird (contrary to Section 18 (2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
All wild birds are protected by law, and ‘Schedule 1’ birds, including hen harriers, have additional protection.
It is thought to be the first time a charge of encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007 has been used in relation to bird of prey persecution.
Dingwall pleaded guilty to both offences today (Thursday 29 January 2026) at York Magistrates’ Court where he was ordered to pay a total of £1,520 in fines, victim surcharge and prosecution costs.
After the sentencing hearing, Inspector Mark Earnshaw, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The cruel and illegal persecution of hen harriers and other birds of prey is totally unacceptable.
“This outcome at court follows a thorough police investigation, and incontrovertible evidence. It should send a strong message to anyone else engaged in this criminality: they will be investigated, identified, and put before the courts to face the consequences of their actions.”
ENDS
UPDATE 30 January 2026: Some commentary on the conviction and sentencing of gamekeeper Racster Dingwall (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
Wow I bet that punishment and the police involvement had him shaking with fear. xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx. He’s a waste of oxygen and nothing would make me happier than see him lose everything.
A good day. Not often do you see someone brought before the court to answer for these despicable crimes. Excellent reporting as well.
I have sent a donation to the RSPB investigations team once again. They are the only show in town it seems to me. I would happily send a donation to the North Yorkshire police if they were anywhere near as adapt at exposing these criminals. They have a very poor historical record despite all of their propaganda imo.
needs to loose firearms/shotgun licence esp as shotgun was used to commit the crime
I get these notifications here in Canada on what is happening with Raptors in the UK. I am so happy they finally caught one and charged him. I had no idea that penned hunts of Grouse would make people kill our beautiful raptors. Plus I can’t believe how the privileged are so adamant about living in the past with “canned hunts”. I just hope canned hunts go out of fashion there. Nuts to be killing wild birds that support ecosystem so these people can kill Grouse with reckless abandon. Thank you for protecting the raptors! I know it is not easy.
Thanks for your comment and your interest all the way from Canada!
Gamebird shooting in the UK is complicated. Red Grouse are not ‘penned’ – they are a native species and considered to be ‘wild’ birds, but the privately-owned moors where they live are (mis)managed to create an artificially high number of Red Grouse that can then be shot (management includes burning the heather, dosing the so-called ‘wild’ birds with veterinary medicines, and (legally) killing native predators such as crows, stoats and weasels (but not raptors, which are supposed to be protected – any killing of raptors is illegal). I wouldn’t describe this as ‘canned hunting’, but ‘farming’ does seem an appropriate term.
Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges are non-native species and are released in their millions (approx 60 million every year!) for shooting. They spend a short period of time inside ‘release pens’ before they are released in to the countryside (private land again), but are then provisioned with food and water to try and keep them in a specific area so they can later be ‘driven’ (flushed) towards a line of guns for so-called ‘sport’.
Thank you for your work. I really appreciate you explaining to me about the Red Grouse. I really hope you can educate people on these birds and their importance to restoration of wild lands and wildlife.
Only a ban on grouse, partridge, pheasant and red legged partridge will stop raptor persecution. Most of the time gamekeepers get away with it as we all know.
Its morally repugnant to kill birds for personal gratification, and just as bad to provide people with the opportunity.
I remember recently shaking my head in disbelief that Labour have no plans to ban the execution of millions of game birds for fun and profit because it’s an important part of the rural economy we’re told. They didn’t mention ethics, just “economy”……that says it all.
“I remember recently shaking my head in disbelief that Labour have no plans to ban the execution of millions of game birds for fun and profit because it’s an important part of the rural economy we’re told. They didn’t mention ethics, just “economy”……that says it all.”
It is also worth bearing in mind that the Government also approves and supports game meat killed with toxic lead shot entering the human food chain, slowly poisoning the electorate.
Some of these cases might go more smoothly if the NYP actually interviewed folk including suspects in a rather more timely manner not months after the event.