Antiques dealer caught selling tiger tooth and stuffed endangered animals
An antiques dealer has been caught selling ivory, endangered taxidermy animals and a tiger tooth.
Justin Grimshaw, 71, was charged with 12 offences relating to the sale of items at Pendragon Antiques in the market town of Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Police raided the shop in May last year and seized items including a taxidermy pine marten, endangered sawfish and an ivory sphinx figure.
The antiques dealer admitted to offences relating to sales between 2019 and 2024 at Boston magistrates court this week.
He was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 12 months and was told he only avoided prison due to his age and health issues.
Grimshaw was also fined £500 and was ordered to pay costs and a surcharge of £239.
Wildlife crime officers said they hoped the conviction would 'underscore the gravity' of the illegal trade in endangered species in the UK and act as a 'strong deterrent'.
Lincolnshire Police's Rural Crime Action Team were tipped off last year about the sale of the illegal goods at the town centre store.
As well as the endangered stuffed animals, officers found an ivory picture frame, an ivory sphinx figure and an ivory and silver presentation trowel.
Officers also visited his home address in Pinchbeck looking for a tiger tooth which had been seen on body worn video in a glass display cabinet.
The tooth was found and seized and further research revealed three sawfish rostrums on sale online between June 2019 and January 2024.
Grimshaw was charged with offences contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulation 2018 and the Ivory Act 2018.
He had claimed in a police interview that he did not realise he couldn't sell the items and did not realise they were protected by various pieces of legislation.
Detective Constable Aaron Flint, the force's wildlife crime officer, said after the case: 'The illegal and unregulated trade in endangered species in the UK has a devastating impact on wildlife populations around the world.
'Iconic species continue to be illegally killed every day, making it vital that those fueling this appalling trade are held accountable.
'I hope this message underscores the gravity of these crimes and serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering involvement in such unlawful activity.
'Lincolnshire Police take this type of offending very seriously and anyone found committing this type of crime will be dealt with robustly.'
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