Ex-gamekeeper fined for plot to kill hen harrier

A gamekeeper who was secretly recorded discussing killing a protected species of bird has been fined by a court.

Covert footage from the RSPB allowed a UK-first prosecution to be brought against Racster Dingwall, 35, over his intention to harm hen harriers.

York Magistrates' Court heard earlier that Dingwall dressed in camouflage gear and took a shotgun and binoculars onto Grassington Moor in North Yorkshire on 2 October 2024. He was then filmed using a radio to talk about shooting the raptors.

The footage was passed to police and Dingwall admitted possessing a shotgun for the purpose of killing a wild bird and a charge of encouraging others to become involved.

The video equipment was set up in the area by the wildlife charity due to concerns that more than 100 hen harriers had gone missing in and around grouse moors in the last five years.

The birds prey on the grouse that are reared by commercial shoots.

Dingwall, now of Ellingstring but previously living at Sleet Moor Farm in Grassington, has now lost his job and accommodation provided by his employer.

He went onto the moor with the intention of killing a hen harrier, prosecutor Jody Beaumont told the court.

He was heard talking on his radio, asking others about potential satellite tags on the birds which could trace the crime back to him.

However, the prosecution said no injury or death had been caused by Dingwall's actions.

Dingwall initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty ahead of his court appearance on Thursday and was sentenced instead.

Tim Ryan, defending, said the gamekeeper had lost his livelihood as a result of the offences.

"It is clear he regrets his offences and has let a lot of people down by his foolish actions," he added.

District Judge Adrian Lower acknowledged there was some controversy around the management of hen harriers, with some believing them to be pests affecting sporting estates and others seeing them as a bird needing protection.

However, he said: "You knew full well what your responsibilities as a gamekeeper were.

"You have had a change in occupation and income. You will never work as a gamekeeper again."

Dingwall was ordered to pay a total of £1,520, made up of £400 for each charge, £320 in victim surcharge and £400 in costs.

Head of investigations at the RSPB, Mark Thomas, said: "Hen harriers are one of Britain's most special and most protected birds and we know these birds have been routinely killed on driven grouse moors.

"In the last five years we've lost over 100 hen harriers, some proven shot and some just vanished mysteriously, so it's great to get a case in court and that's through a painstaking operation."

The RSPB said the prosecution is the first involving any bird with Schedule 1 status in England.

Schedule 1 species have additional protection under law, such as persons requiring a licence or permit to approach a nest or adult bird with dependent young.

The charity has called for estates to be licensed, with conditions that shooting could be suspended if a wildlife crime was committed.

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