A man has been found not guilty of criminal damage in relation to the dumping of 50 dead Hares outside Broughton Community Shop in Hampshire, but has been found guilty of being in possession of two dead birds of prey, a Kestrel and a Barn Owl, that were found rammed up against the shop’s door handles.
James ‘Jimmy’ Kempster, 39, of Bury Brickfield Park in Totton, Southampton, had been accused of being one of three masked men involved with the shocking incident that was caught on CCTV in the early hours of 15th March 2024.
Screen grab from the CCTV footage outside Broughton Community Shop
The prosecution argued that DNA found on the dead birds was matched to Kempster and that he was also linked to the incident through his mobile phone location, his clothing and connections to the vehicle, which was found burnt out in a country lane.
However, after a two-day trial that concluded at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the magistrates decided that there was insufficient evidence to show that Kempster was involved, or even at the scene, so declared him not guilty of criminal damage to the shop windows.
They did, however, accept the DNA evidence and determined that Kempster had been in possession of the dead raptors at some point, but that didn’t necessarily mean he was the individual seen on the footage ramming the birds’ corpses up against the shop’s door handles. He was found guilty of possession of a dead schedule 1 wild bird, and possession of a dead non-schedule 1 wild bird under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Sentencing was adjourned for background reports and Kempster was released on bail, to return to the same court on 23 June 2026.
Kempster has 13 previous convictions, including several relating to Hare coursing offences (e.g. see here in Wiltshire) and a conviction for possession of an offensive weapon (catapult) when he was involved in a mass brawl between feuding families at Wickham Horse Fair in Hampshire (see here).
A trial is underway at Southampton Magistrates’ Court this week for a man who is accused of several offences relating to the dumping of 50 hares and two raptors (a Barn Owl and a Kestrel) outside a community shop in Broughton, Hampshire, in March 2024.
James Kempster, 39, of Totton, Southampton, is charged with two counts of possessing a dead bird under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and a charge of criminal damage to the shop front.
Photo by Broughton Community Shop
The court heard that the alleged incident was caught on CCTV in the early hours of 15th March 2024.
Prosecutor Adam Cooper said: “This is a horror movie scene outside a Broughton village shop – it’s a small Hampshire village.
“In the middle of the night, at 3.23am, three men arrived outside the shop by car, the driver remains in the car, having manoeuvred it to a position so the boot is adjacent to the forecourt.
“Two men get out. They are both dressed in tracksuits, hoods up, balaclavas covering their faces so neither can be identified.
“They get out to discard the bodies of 50 dead hares over the forecourt, strewn about deliberately to maximise their coverage. The Crown says one of those two men is James Kempster.
Mr Cooper said one of the men then “tears or rips the body of one of the hares in half, blood is dripping on the floor, wipes the shop front, smearing the blood”.
He then takes two birds, a Barn owl and a Kestrel, from the car before wiping them in the blood and “stuffing” them under the door handles, the prosecutor said.
Mr Cooper added that the man “then beckons the car to show the driver their handiwork, gets into the car and leaves“.
The prosecutor told the court that DNA found on the dead birds was matched to Kemspter. He was also linked to the incident through his mobile phone location, his clothing and connections to the car, which was found burnt out in a country lane.
Kempster denies the charges and the trial continues.
This trial had been originally scheduled to take place in May 2025. For previous blogs on the case see here, here, here, here, here and here.
NB: Comments are turned off as legal proceedings are still live.
UPDATE 25 April 2026: Man found not guilty of criminal damage relating to dumping of 50 dead Hares at Broughton Community Shop, but guilty of possession of dead Kestrel and Barn Owl (here)
Many people probably imagine that the use of poisons to kill protected wildlife is something out of the pre-Victorian era, like cock fighting and bull baiting. However, this senseless and cruel slaughter is still happening in Britain, with many mammals and birds of prey suffering horrific and agonising deaths, even though this practice has been banned since 1911.
It is a crime which not only kills wildlife, but also kills much loved family pets and can even kill people. This is a wildlife crime that frequently occurs on remote and private land where the chance of detection is very low and most victims are never found. Those cases which are reported and then investigated must be considered to be a very small tip of a very large ‘iceberg’ of sickening rural felonies.
An illegally poisoned Red Kite (photo via WPRUK)
In 2017, in an attempt to combat this wildlife crime, the UK Government initiated a project to map incidents of illegal bird poisonings. This provided information to the public and other interested parties as to where these crimes were taking place and it was intended that these maps would be updated annually to “provide an invaluable intelligence tool to help fight crimes against birds of prey” (Defra press release 2017).
It now appears that these wildlife poison crime maps have not been updated and there is very little governmental action informing the public that these crimes are still occurring and wildlife is still being deliberately poisoned.
Wildlife Poisoning Research UK (WPRUK) works to place information about the environmental impact of pesticides, biocides and other toxic chemicals into the public domain so that the general public and the media have a better understanding of this situation. Data on cases of deliberate poisoning of birds has been obtained using Freedom of Information requests. This has enabled WPRUK to produce maps showing where these poisoned birds have been found. This is information which the Government, for whatever reason, has now apparently declined to put into the public domain.
WPRUK has now released a report pinpointing where the poisoned birds have been found in Northern England. Future maps will cover other parts of the UK.
Between 2015 to 2023, the bodies of 73 legally protected birds, mostly birds of prey, were found in Northern England. These birds had been illegally and deliberately killed using poisons; 31 birds being Schedule 1 Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) species, which have the highest level of protection. Due to the very small chance of poisoned birds being found, the real numbers of birds being killed by this criminal activity is likely to be far higher. To date, no one has been convicted for killing any of these 73 birds.
There were two areas in Northern England where particularly high numbers of poisoned birds were found. These were Nidderdale in North Yorkshire and the Glapwell area in Derbyshire.
Releasing the report, Dr Ed Blane from WPRUK said: “The fact that 114 years after this sickening practice was banned, individuals are still poisoning our wildlife is deeply disturbing. People visit the countryside to enjoy nature and they will be truly alarmed to learn that poison is still being used to kill wildlife.”
If this continues it might severely impact on plans to re-introduce white tailed eagles to Northern England. In the Southern England eagle project, at least 2 birds have been killed by poison.
A comment from Steve Downing Chairman Northern England Raptor Forum:
“We proudly, and rightly, identify ourselves as a nation of nature lovers. Every year tens of thousands of tourists, both domestic and foreign, visit the historic and beautiful countryside throughout the North of England to enjoy the scenery and stunning birds of prey that it supports. Collectively they spend £millions supporting our rural communities. What the visitors don’t see is the underbelly of criminality in the countryside where the barbaric practice of deliberately poisoning raptors persists today, as highlighted by the bodies found in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire and around Glapwell in Derbyshire. Thanks to Ed, a spotlight is being shone on this shocking pernicious activity raising public awareness of the danger presented by these lethal poisons, both to themselves and local birds of prey.”
Bob Elliot CEO of Wild Justice said:
“Illegal wildlife poisoning hasn’t faded into history; it’s still being carried out in the shadows with very little oversight. These findings show that wildlife species are still being killed with impunity, and the public is being kept in the dark about the scale of it. Without transparency, enforcement and the political will to confront those responsible, this criminal abuse of our countryside will continue unchecked.”
James Kempster, 37, of Bury Brickfield Park, Totton made a second appearance at Southampton Magistrates Court on 23 September 2024 to face charges in relation to the dumping of approximately 50 hares, a shot barn owl and a shot kestrel outside Broughton Community Shop near Stockbridge, Hampshire in March this year.
The shot kestrel and shot barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop
Hampshire Police charged Kempster in August with possessing live/dead Schedule 1 wild bird or its parts, possessing live/dead non-Schedule 1 wild bird or parts, and causing £5,000 worth of criminal damage to the shop window.
He had first appeared in court on 10th September but the case was adjourned. Appearing again in court on 23rd September, Kempster pleaded not guilty to all charges and a trial date has been set for 7 May 2025.
Kempster was released on bail on condition that he doesn’t enter the village of Broughton.
James Kempster, 37, of Bury Brickfield Park, Totton appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday 10th September 2024 to face charges in relation to the dumping of approximately 50 hares, a shot barn owl and a shot kestrel outside Broughton community shop near Stockbridge, Hampshire in March this year.
Hampshire Police charged Kempster in August with possessing live/dead Schedule 1 wild bird or its parts, possessing live/dead non-Schedule 1 wild bird or parts, and causing £5,000 worth of criminal damage to the shop window.
The shot kestrel and shot barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop
Kempster spoke only to confirm his name and address and did not enter a plea. The case was adjourned and will continue on 23 September 2023. Kemspter’s bail conditions ban him from entering Broughton.
Press release from Hampshire Constabulary (13 August 2024):
MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH BROUGHTON WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION
A man has been charged in connection with an incident in which dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.
James Kempster, 37, of Marchwood Road in Totton, has been charged with possessing live/dead Schedule 1 wild bird or its parts, possessing live/dead non-Schedule 1 wild bird or parts, and criminal damage.
On the morning of March 15 this year, police received reports that around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside Broughton Community Shop in High Street.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Country Watch Team have been investigating the incident alongside the Criminal Investigation Department, which has now resulted in these charges.
Kempster is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday 10 September.
ENDS
For previous blogs on this case see here, here and here.
As this case is now live, comments are turned off until criminal proceedings have concluded so as not to jeopardise the case.
UPDATE 21 April 2026: Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire (here)
On March 15th 2024 around 50 dead hares and a dead kestrel and barn owl were found dumped outside Broughton community shop in Hampshire, causing widespread revulsion and condemnation across the media (see here).
The kestrel and barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop
Two weeks later Hampshire Constabulary arrested a man on suspicion of a number of offences in relation to this incident (see here).
Yesterday, Hampshire Constabulary issued another press statement, as follows:
MAN INTERVIEWED UNDER CAUTION AS PART OF BROUGHTON WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION
Officers have questioned a second man in connection with an incident in which dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.
On the morning of Friday 15 March, police received reports that around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside Broughton Community Shop in High Street.
Officers from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Country Watch Team have been following various lines of enquiry as part of the investigation.
As previously mentioned, officers arrested a 37-year-old man from Totton on Thursday 28 March on suspicion of a number of offences, including criminal damage, wildlife and firearms offences.
He was subsequently released on police bail with conditions until Friday 28 June, pending further enquiries.
Yesterday (Tuesday 9 April), a 27-year-old man from Hythe attended a police station on a voluntary basis and was interviewed under caution. He remains under investigation.
Officers continue to investigate the circumstances of this incident.
Anyone who has any further information that may help our enquiries is asked to contact us on 101, quoting the reference number 44240111410, or via our website.
ENDS
UPDATE 14 August 2024: Man charged in connection to dumped hares and raptors outside community shop in Hampshire (here)
UPDATE 21 April 2026: Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire (here)
A couple of weeks ago around 50 dead hares and a dead kestrel and barn owl were found dumped outside Broughton community shop in Hampshire, causing widespread revulsion and condemnation across the media (see here).
The kestrel and barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop
Yesterday evening Hampshire Constabulary announced that a man had been arrested and was being held in custody in connection to this horrific incident.
Hampshire Constabulary press release (28 March 2024):
ARREST MADE IN BROUGHTON WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION
A man has been arrested in connection with an incident where a number of dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.
Police were called on the morning of Friday 15 March, after around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside the Broughton Community Shop in High Street.
An investigation was launched and officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Country Watch team have been following various lines of enquiry.
Part of our enquiries have included examinations of the barn owl and kestrel. Those examinations revealed that both birds had been shot with a firearm. Both the kestrel and the barn owl are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection.
Today (Thursday 28 March), officers have arrested a 37-year-old man from Totton on suspicion of the following offences:
Criminal Damage
Night Poaching
An offence under the Public Order Act
Killing of a Schedule 1 bird
An offence under the Animal Welfare Act
Killing of Brown Hare in the closed season
An offence under the Firearms Act
He remains in police custody while we carry out our enquiries.
Country Watch Sergeant Stuart Ross said: “Since this incident took place, we have been actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and working with partner agencies to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“We are grateful for the help we have received from the local community and we’d like to thank them for their patience while we investigate what happened.
“There may be some people with information who have not yet come forward, and if so, we would urge them to do so as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can report it by calling 101, quoting the reference number 44240111410, or via our website.
ENDS
UPDATE: The man has been released on bail until 28 June 2024, pending further enquiries.
UPDATE 11 April 2024: Police interview second man in relation to dumped hares and raptors outside Broughton community shop (here)
UPDATE 14 August 2024: Man charged in connection to dumped hares and raptors outside community shop in Hampshire (here)
UPDATE 21 April 2026: Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire (here)
There are at least 38 dead hares and a dead kestrel and barn owl. This is a village community shop in Broughton near Stockbridge.
Hampshire Police have attended the scene, removed the corpses and have launched an investigation.
UPDATE 29 March 2024: Man in custody in relation to dumped hares and raptors outside Broughton community shop (here)
UPDATE 11 April 2024: Police interview second man in relation to dumped hares and raptors outside Broughton community shop (here)
UPDATE 14 August 2024: Man charged in connection to dumped hares and raptors outside community shop in Hampshire (here)
UPDATE 12 September 2024: Man in court in connection to dumped hares and shot raptors at Broughton community shop, Hampshire (here)
UPDATE 29 September 2024: Trial date set in relation to dumping of dead raptors & hares outside Broughton community shop (here)
UPDATE 21 April 2026: Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire (here)
UPDATE 25 April 2026: Man found not guilty of criminal damage relating to dumping of 50 dead Hares at Broughton Community Shop, but guilty of possession of dead Kestrel and Barn Owl (here)
Multi-agency searches were conducted last week at a raptor-poisoning hotspot in Derbyshire.
Since 2015, at least eight illegally poisoned birds of prey including buzzards and kestrels, as well as poisoned pheasant baits, have been uncovered on farmland in the Glapwell / Ault Hucknall / Rowthorne / Pleasley area of north east Derbyshire. Toxicology analysis has confirmed they were killed by the poisons Aldicarb and Alphachloralose (see here).
[A dead buzzard found in the area. Photo by Derbyshire Constabulary]
Last week police officers from Derbyshire Police’s Rural Crime Team were joined by staff from the RSPB Investigations Team, Natural England and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to undertake a series of land searches. A number of follow-up investigations are now continuing as a result of those searches.
Derbyshire’s Rural Crime Team posted the following statement on Facebook yesterday:
‘Consider this post both an appeal for information and a public safety warning.
Over recent years there has been a concerning number of dead buzzards found to have died as a result of poisoning on land around the Glapwell / Ault Hucknall / Rowthorne / Pleasley area.
In response to this issue, last week Derbyshire Rural Crime Team, RSPB Birders , the NWCU and Natural England were involved in a day of action in the area. Land searches were conducted and other lines of enquiry pursued in what proved to be a very positive day.
Clearly these beautiful birds are being targeted. Killing birds of prey in any way is ILLEGAL but laying poison on land that can be easily accessed by the public poses a significant risk to public safety.
When out and about, should you find anything suspicious it is important that you contact the Police immediately. DO NOT touch or handle anything and do not let children or animals go near.
If you have any information that may aid this enquiry please contact Derbyshire Rural Crime Team’.
This is the latest in a surge of multi-agency investigations in response to raptor persecution crimes over the last 14 months, including a raid in Suffolk on 18th January 2021 (here), another raid in Nottinghamshire in January 2021 (here, resulting in a conviction of a gamekeeper in 2022 here), a raid in Lincolnshire on 15th March 2021 (see here), a raid in Dorset on 18th March 2021 (here), a raid in Devon on 26th March 2021 (see here), a raid in Teesdale on 21st April 2021 (here), a raid in Shropshire on 2nd August 2021 (here), a raid in Herefordshire on 12th August 2021 (here), a raid in Norfolk on 14th September 2021 (here), a raid in Wales in October 2021 (here), a raid in Humberside on 10th December 2021 (here) and a raid in North Wales on 8th February 2022 (here).
Raptor Persecution UK 