Latest news with #CommunityPaybackOrder
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Man sentenced for coating pheasant carcasses in rat poison over feud
He hoped that his actions would cause reputational damage to the landowner's country estate. Burgoyne was given the Community Payback Order at Forfar Sheriff Court after he admitted a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. READ MORE: 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.' Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate near Arbroath on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate. The dead pheasants had clearly been left out in the open to attract non-target species such as birds of prey (Image: COPFS) The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was an anticoagulant rodenticide formulation containing the active ingredient difenacoum. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcases suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. Difenacoum is highly toxic to birds and if consumed causes haemorrhaging. A single feed from a baited carcass would prove fatal to a raptor. The court heard that the dead pheasants had clearly been left out in the open to attract non-target species such as birds of prey. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds.
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen domestic abuser who drove car at ex-girlfriend ignored court order
An Aberdeen domestic abuser has been given more community service after breaching a court order not to contact his victim. Jordan MacDonald had been given a non-harassment order banning him from contact with his ex-partner. MacDonald, 25, previously admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards the woman and one of her friends during an incident on Aberdeen's Beach Boulevard in 2023. Macdonald was convicted of driving his car towards the woman, who was narrowly pulled to safety by her friend. Speaking to the Press and Journal, she said: 'I froze, my friend had to drag me out of the way. 'He tried to run me over – it's been terrifying.' For the offence of driving the car at the woman and of carrying out domestic abuse towards her in a three-month period of the same year, MacDonald was given a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative to custody. The charges states MacDonald drove his car 'at speed' and close to where his ex-partner and her friend were standing – placing them in a state of fear and alarm. Then, on various occasions on streets around Aberdeen, he repeatedly drove his car slowly past her, shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards her. For this, he was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last week, MacDonald was found guilty of breaching a bail order by contacting the woman in September last year – while awaiting the trial for the Beach Boulevard offence. For that MacDonald, of Auskerry Avenue, Aberdeen, was given 100 more hours of unpaid work, which he must carry out within 12 months. MacDonald is currently being investigated over allegations he tried to make contact with his ex-partner again. She said: 'It's made me really angry, he basically got away with it. 'I've told the police, but I don't think they have found him yet.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We received a report of a non-harassment order being breached and enquiries are ongoing.'
