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Rare egg thief jailed, thousands of eggs stolen
The BBC has reported that a jail sentence of 23 weeks
has been given to a professional egg thief who illegally collected more than
7,000 birds' eggs.
Richard Pearson of Lincolnshire, UK, had eggs from many rare birds
such as golden eagles, peregrine falcons and ospreys. He admitted five charges
of illegally stealing and possessing the eggs - one of the largest hauls ever
recovered.
In addition to the jail sentence, Pearson was ordered to pay of
£1,500.
Pearson admitted he stole 5 chough eggs and 3 peregrine falcon eggs from
Pen y Parc in Anglesey in April 2005, as well as 4 barn owl eggs from a site
near Saltfleet, Lincolnshire, in the same month. Some of the rarest eggs
included those of a red-necked phalarope and a Montagu's harrier.
Pearson pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the possession of 21 dead
birds and egg collecting paraphernalia that was found at his home.
Prosecuting counsel David Outterside: "Mr Pearson has in effect admitted to
being a professional birds' egg thief who operated at the highest end of one of
Britain's most destructive natural pastimes."
It is also reported by the BBC that police officers from the RSPB raided
his home and found 7,130 eggs, 653 of which were from the most protected species
in the UK.
Editor WorldPoultry
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