Tag: tawny owl

Trial continues for 88-year-old accused of 11 offences relating to alleged raptor persecution in Lincolnshire

The long-running prosecution of Lincolnshire farmer William Brian Chorlton, now 88-years-old, continued at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court last week.

Photo by Ruth Tingay

In April 2025, Mr Chorlton, then aged 87, of Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire was summoned to court following reports that birds of prey were being poisoned in the Castle Bytham area.

He faced eleven charges relating to the unapproved or unlawful storage of the chemical Aldicarb, possession of a poisoners kit, and possession and use of four pole traps on his Pheasant shoot (see here).

Mr Chorlton appeared at Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court in May 2025 and pleaded not guilty to all charges and the case was set to proceed to trial in October 2025.

However, at a pre-trial hearing in September 2025, Mr Chorlton’s lawyer announced that he intended to apply for a judicial review of the District Judge’s decision not to dismiss the case (see here), which meant that the original trial date of October 2025 was postponed until the judicial review application was heard.

A further case management hearing scheduled for January 2026 was also postponed as the application for judicial review was still underway (see here).

In April 2026 Mr Chorlton’s application for judicial review was rejected by the High Court.

Another case management hearing (for the criminal prosecution case) took place in April 2026 and a new trial date was set for 8th and 9th October 2026.

The trial began last week and evidence was heard from prosecution witnesses, including evidence about the discovery of Tawny Owl DNA on a number of pole traps that Mr Chorlton claims were being used to trap squirrels.

The trial was further adjourned and will continue at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court in February 2027.

NB: As proceedings are still live, comments have been turned off.

Lancashire man convicted of shooting Tawny Owl in local park

In July 2024 Joe Morris, 28, of White Grove, Colne, Lancashire was charged with killing two wild birds with an air rifle after police received reports of someone seen dumping a Tawny Owl and a Woodpigeon in a wheelie bin in Colne in March 2024 (see here).

Tawny Owl. Photo by Pete Walkden

This case was heard in November 2024 but it missed my radar so here, for completeness, is a belated report, thanks to the court reporter Andrew Bellard at the Lancashire Telegraph who wrote the following article, published 18 November 2024:

DRUNK MAN SHOT TAWNY OWL AND WOOD PIGEON AT ALKINCOATS PARK

A drunk man shot two “beautiful” birds with an air rifle when he went shooting in a public park.

Blackburn magistrates heard Joe Morris was drunk when he went to the park and shot a tawny owl and a wood pigeon.

Morris, 28, of White Grove, Colne, pleaded guilty to possessing an air weapon in Alkincoats Park, Colne, and killing a tawny owl and a wood pigeon.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.

He was fined £40 with £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said wildlife was priceless and Morris had killed two beautiful birds.

“It is alarming to think you were out with an air rifle and, by your own admission, you were drunk when you did this,” she said.

Henry Prescott, prosecuting, said police received an anonymous tip-off about a man returning to his home address and putting a tawny owl and a wood pigeon in his wheelie bin.

The caller said Morris regularly went to Alkincoats Park shooting wild birds.

When officers spoke to Morris at his home he admitted what he had done and recovered the birds from the bin.

Mr Prescott said the air rifle was not an illegal weapon and had not been seized by the police.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had disposed of the air rifle and had no intention of replacing it.

“He is very embarrassed and ashamed of what he did,” said Mr Williams.

“He can’t and doesn’t wish to put forward any excuses. He accepts what he did was very inappropriate.”

Mr Williams said his client had problems with alcohol and had self-referred to Inspire.

ENDS

Man charged with shooting Tawny Owl & Woodpigeon & dumping them in wheelie bin

A man has been charged with killing two wild birds with an air rifle after police received reports of someone seen dumping a Tawny Owl and a Woodpigeon in a wheelie bin in Colne, Lancashire, in March 2024.

Tawny Owl photo by Pete Walkden

Joe Morris, 28, of White Grove, Colne, Lancashire has been charged with killing a non-Schedule 1 bird, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and possessing an air weapon in a public place.

He is due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates on 22 August 2024.

UPDATE 29 April 2025: Lancashire man convicted of shooting Tawny Owl in local park (here)

Northamptonshire Police appeal for information after tawny owl found shot

Appeal for information from Northamptonshire Police, 1st May 2024:

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER INJURED TAWNY OWL FOUND NEAR ORLINGBURY

Rural Crime Team officers are appealing for information after a tawny owl was found with a rifle shot wound in woods near Orlingbury.

The injured owl was found in Badsaddle Wood, between Orlingbury and Broughton off the A43, on the afternoon of Monday, April 1.

It was taken to a rescue centre where it sadly died from its injuries.

Tawny owl photo by Pete Walkden

Like most birds in the UK, tawny owls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to kill, injure or capture a bird and also to damage or destroy their nests.

Officers investigating the incident are appealing for information about sightings of anyone with a rifle in the Badsaddle Wood area.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

Please quote incident number 24000191237 when getting in touch to ensure your information reaches the right person as quickly as possible.

ENDS

Leicestershire man receives 12 month community order for illegal possession of dead protected species, including 8 raptors

In October 2023, Kelvin Birtles of Saffron Road, Wigston appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to three offences – the possession of two dead badgers (in breach of the Protection of Badgers Act), the possession of two dead otters (in breach of the Wildlife & Countryside Act) and the possession of nine dead birds including three buzzards, four tawny owls, one barn owl and one swan, which were all found in his freezer during a joint police and trading standards raid in April 2023. Sentencing was deferred for background reports (see blog here).

Buzzard photo by Andy Howard

Birtle re-appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court on 15th November 2023 where he told the court he didn’t know he needed a licence, that some of the items were for his taxidermy hobby, and that some had been roadkill that he’d removed from near a school because ‘he didn’t want kids to see them smashed up on the road’.

He received a 12 month community order requiring him to carry out 120 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

Source: Leicestershire Live website

Leicestershire man pleads guilty to possession of 8 raptors & other protected wildlife found in his freezer

A Leicestershire man has been convicted for the possession of protected wildlife that was discovered in his freezer during a joint police and trading standards raid in April 2023.

Kelvin Birtles of Saffron Road, Wigston, pleaded guilty to three offences – the possession of two dead badgers (in breach of the Protection of Badgers Act), the possession of two dead otters (in breach of the Wildlife & Countryside Act) and the possession of nine dead birds including three buzzards, four tawny owls, one barn owl and one swan.

Buzzard photo: Steve Robinson

The body parts of other animals were also found during the raid, including  llamas, piglets, a pheasant and a horse, although as these are not protected species, their possession isn’t an offence.

Birtles had claimed all the animals were roadkill and that he hadn’t killed them himself. Even if that’s true, possession of protected species is still an offence.

District Judge Jonathan Straw ordered a probation report and deferred sentencing until 15th November.

Source: Leicestershire Live

UPDATE 30 December 2023: Leicestershire man receives 12 month community order for illegal possession of dead protected species, including 8 raptors (here)

Cheshire man convicted for possession of wild owls & associated welfare offences

Press release from Cheshire Constabulary (24 July 2023)

MAN BANNED FROM KEEPING BIRDS FOR FIVE YEARS

A man has been disqualified from keeping birds for five years after police seized wild owls from his address which were being kept in unsuitable conditions.

Alan Mee, 61, of Larch Avenue, Newton-le-Willows, appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Monday 17 July where he pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal, and two counts of possessing a wild bird.

The three tawny owls at Mee’s premises. (Photo: Cheshire Constabulary)

On 20 June, 2022, Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, Merseyside Police, RSPCA, and Natural England executed a warrant as a result of information relating to wild birds in the Cheshire area.

Cheshire Police led on the warrant at Mee’s address in Newton-le-Willows and three tawny owls were located, two of which were suspected to have been taken from the wild.

All three owls were seized due to the conditions they were being kept in, which included having dirty water, no feeding area, and the aviary being too small.

Mee was interviewed under police caution in relation to the offence before being charged.

He was disqualified from keeping birds for a period of five years and also incurred a fine and court costs to the value of £823.

PC Ashley Tether, of the Rural Crime Unit, said:

“This case demonstrates the importance of working with our partner agencies to tackle wildlife crime and combat those responsible for the suffering of animals.

The three tawny owls seized from Mee’s address were kept in poor conditions with no access to fresh water, an adequate enclosure size, or a clean food ledge.

Mee is now disqualified from owning, keeping, participating in the keeping, or influencing the way birds are kept, for a period of five years. 

I hope this acts as a reminder that we are committed to doing all we can to help protect our wildlife“.

ENDS

Many thanks to the blog reader who alerted me to to this press release.

Update from Lincolnshire Police on discovery of raptor body parts found in ditch

In January 2023, Detective Constable Aaron Flint from Lincolnshire Police’s Wildlife Crime Unit appealed for information after the discovery of various body parts from three barn owls, one tawny owl and one red kite were found dumped in a ditch near Sleaford (see here and here).

Photo by Lincolnshire Police

Today, DC Flint has provided an update on the investigation:

Kent police appeal for info re: unlawful killing of tawny owl. Do you recognise these men?

Kent Police Appeal for Information (9th January 2023):

Unlawful killing of owl in Upchurch.

Kent Police’s Rural Task Force is investigating the suspected killing of a tawny owl in Upchurch.

The incident is believed to have happened in October 2022 and officers have recently come into possession of images of two men they would like to speak to.

Police Sergeant Darren Walshaw said: “We suspect an owl was killed using catapults and are now issuing photographs of two people who may be able to assist with our enquiries. Anybody who recognises one or both of them is urged to contact our appeal line.”

Anyone with information should call 01634 792209, quoting Rural Task Force reference 95-22. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form on the website.

ENDS

Three barn owls, one tawny owl & one red kite found dumped in ditch – police appeal for information

More detail has emerged about the discovery of five dead birds of prey and two magpies found in suspicious circumstances and the subject of an appeal for information yesterday by Lincolnshire Police’s Wildlife Crime Team (see here).

The five raptors are reported to be three barn owls, one tawny owl and a red kite.

The police appeal for information contained very little detail yesterday – no date of discovery, no specific location and no species identification, although the dismembered wings of a barn owl could be seen in the accompanying police photograph:

Many thanks to BBC reporters Simon Hare and Paul Murphy for providing a bit more information:

If you have any information that could assist the police investigation please contact DC Aaron Flint at Lincolnshire Police, either by calling 101 and quoting incident number 22000747007 or by emailing aaron.flint@lincs.police.uk

UPDATE 27th May 2023: Update from Lincolnshire Police on discovery of raptor body parts found in ditch (here)