Trial date for Shropshire gamekeeper accused of trapping wild birds
A gamekeeper from Shropshire who has denied using a trap to take or kill a wild bird will go on trial.
Neil Gordon Wainwright has denied possessing and using a Larsen trap, which is made of wood and wire and uses a live animal to attract another into the cage.
He was accused of attempting to trap wild birds in Birch Hill Wood, in Gatten, Stiperstones. Wainwright, 54, of Norbury, near Bishop's Castle, appeared at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.
He denied failing to ensure the welfare of two white quail.
He pleaded guilty to three further charges relating to the storage of firearms, ammunition and poison for gassing moles, rabbits and rats.
Wainwright admitted failing to comply with a condition of his firearms licence by not keeping his ammunition in a secured cabinet at his home in Norbury on August 5.
He also admitted failing to store the substance Phostoxin in a suitable way to ensure it did not come into contact with people or the environment on August 5. Phostoxin contains aluminium phosphide, a highly toxic substance which reacts with moisture to create phosphine gas which is lethal to animals at low concentrations in the air in nests, warrens and burrows.
The case was adjourned until May 8 for a trial before a district judge at Telford Magistrates Court.
