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.
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