Gamekeeper stockpiled outlawed poisons and shot buzzard preying on pheasants

A GAMEKEEPER shot a buzzard and stockpiled outlawed poisons to prevent the predators from eating pheasants on a breeding estate.

Graham Kerr was caught red-handed with one bird of prey he had slaughtered and admitted he was planning to kill more of the buzzards, which are protected by law.

As well as using a rifle to kill one bird, Kerr had obtained banned poisons which would cause the birds slow, agonising deaths on Redmyre Estate in Abernyte, Perthshire, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

Kerr, 53, of Mary Findlay Drive, Dundee, admitted intentionally killing a buzzard by shooting it with a rifle on Redmyre Estate on 9 September 2009.

He also admitted possessing pesticides Carbofuran and Alpha-Chloralose, which contained proscribed active ingredients, and has been ordered to attend court for sentence.

Solicitor Thomas Cruikshank, defending, said Kerr had decided to take on the buzzards after they began killing the pheasants that were being bred.

He said legitimate methods to stave off the buzzards had failed.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: "Anyone employed as a gamekeeper would be aware of very considerable restrictions there now are on the damage and destruction of wild birds. Anyone in that position would be expected to know it was illegal."