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STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Man coated pheasant carcasses in rat poison in feud with landowner
A man who coated pheasant carcasses in rat poison to bait and injure wildlife as part of a feud with a landowner has been sentenced. Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar, has been ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and given a community payback order after he admitted a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The crime was committed as part of an ongoing feud with a local landowner over shooting rights. He hoped that his actions would cause reputational damage to the landowner's country estate. COPFS Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar, carried out the crime as part of an ongoing feud Prosecutors told Forfar Sheriff Court 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 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 difenacoum. Difenacoum is highly toxic to birds and if consumed causes haemorrhaging. A single feed from a baited carcass would prove fatal to a raptor. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcases suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. 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. 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 '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.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Man doused dead pheasants in rat poison to harm wildlife in feud with Scots landowner
Clive Burgoyne, 38, doused the birds in rat poison in order to cause reputational damage to the landowner's country estate. A man who doused dead pheasants in rat poison in a bid to injure protected wildlife amid a bitter feud with a Scots landowner has avoided jail. Clive Burgoyne, 38, from Forfar in Angus, carried out the crime during a row with a local landowner over shooting rights. He hoped that his actions would cause reputational damage to the landowner's country estate. However, his disturbing plot was exposed after his DNA was traced on the dead birds. He appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday after admitting a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The court heard how his malice operation was unravelled after he was spotted 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. 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. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds. It was distinguished that the dead pheasants had clearly been left out in the open to attract non-target species such as birds of prey. Burgoyne was ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. 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. '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.'
The Courier
20-05-2025
- The Courier
Shopkeeper sexually assaulted schoolgirl, 13, who tried to buy vape in Montrose
A shopkeeper who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl when she tried to buy a vape from him in Montrose has been placed on the sex offenders register. Salman Hssainni denied sexually assaulting and communicating indecently with the 13-year-old when she tried to buy the e-cigarette. Hssainni was working alone at the Dobry Eastern European store on Montrose's High Street on July 20 last year when the girl entered. He asked to kiss her then unzipped her top. At an earlier hearing, Forfar Sheriff Court heard Hssainni was a Kurdish-Iranian asylum seeker who lived in Angus at the time and is now residing in Glasgow. The 29-year-old stood trial, aided in the dock by an interpreter, was found guilty and placed on the sex offenders register. Hssaini's victim cannot be identified for legal reasons. She told the trial she had been with friends but went into the shop alone to purchase a vape for one of the group. 'I saw just the one male behind the counter, just sat there on their phone. 'I asked for the vape. He responded, asking to kiss me. I said: 'no, I've got a boyfriend'. 'He was like: 'Aw, your boyfriend won't find out'. 'I asked for the vape again. He started grabbing my face. 'He tried to unzip my cardi. I had nothing underneath but a bra. 'He was pointing to… my chest, my neck, just everywhere on my body, asking if he could kiss me there. 'He just kept on asking. I told him I had to get a train home. The girl continued: 'He put the vape on the counter. He was like: 'Please can I kiss you?' 'He was teasing me with my change, he was putting it in my hand and taking it out my hand. 'When he was asking to kiss me, he was pulling me forward. 'He was holding my cardi and pulling me. He was also holding my chin and pulling me closer. 'I was pulling away, leaning backwards. 'I sprinted out. I wanted to get away from the shop. I regretted going in. 'I didn't know what was going to happen to me.' The girl phoned her father and friends later entered the shop to challenge Hssainni. When police attended the next day, they were advised the CCTV cameras were 'preventative measures' rather than recording kit. The court also heard from two of the girl's friends. Hssainni, who is not the owner of the shop, denied the incident had taken place and claimed he simply refused to sell the vape to her. He told the court the girl was 'arguing and pleading' for the e-cigarette. The girl's cardigan was examined by police but no DNA was recovered from it. Sheriff Mark Thorley convicted Hssainni of two charges. He found, for sexual gratification or humiliating, distressing or alarming the 13-year-old, Hssainni directed sexual verbal communications at her and repeatedly uttered sexual remarks to her. The sheriff also found Hssainni guilty of sexually assaulting the teen and seizing her on the head, attempting to pull her towards him and repeatedly attempting to remove her upper clothing. He told Hssainni: 'I found the evidence of the young women here compelling and I accept their evidence as being both credible and reliable.' Sentencing was deferred until June 26 for the court to obtain background reports.
The Courier
15-05-2025
- The Courier
Thursday court round-up — Crashes, cyclist and cannabis
A teenage driver who fractured his hip and had to be cut out of his car following a crash has been disqualified for four months. appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to admit a reduced charge of careless driving, having initially been charged with driving dangerously. On July 20 last year, he turned right off the A935 between Montrose and Brechin at the Pugeston Junction and collided with an oncoming Nissan Qashqai, spinning several times and scuffing a third car waiting at the junction. The oncoming Qashqai spun 180 degrees and came to rest on the road. 19-year-old Pittendreich had to be cut out of his car, which was written off. He admitted failing to keep proper observations, turning into the face of oncoming traffic and colliding with the vehicles. His solicitor Nick Markowski said: 'The junction at Pugeston is notorious – it's caught out a lot of drivers over the years – experienced drivers, as well as Mr Pittendreich. 'He had a fractured hip as a result of that. He was off the road for a couple of months. 'It's been a misjudgement. It was a loss of about £4,000 to £5,000 to him. It's been quite a lesson to him.' Pittendreich, of Glenskinno near Montrose, was banned and fined £320 altogether by Sheriff Mark Thorley, who said: 'This could have had terrible consequences, I'm sure you're aware of that.' A pet owner whose bulldog was found malnourished, infected and shut away in a squalid bedroom has been banned from keeping animals. The dog called Hugo had to be put to sleep after it was discovered severely underweight with his ribs visible. appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and admitted causing his dog unnecessary suffering. The 27-year-old, from Glenrothes, was spared jail but banned from keeping pets for five years. A cyclist suffered a serious injury after being struck by a careless driver in Dundee. denied causing the man to suffer serious injury through careless driving on August 15 2024 on Lochee Road and Rankine Street, Dundee. The 69-year-old Dogra, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz, failed to give way and entered a road when it was unsafe to do so and colliding with the cyclist. Dundee Sheriff Court heard how the man suffered an injury to his collar bone. Dogra, of Bank Avenue, was found guilty by Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith who ordered him to pay £500 in compensation and a £200 fine. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. A Fife nightclub worker was glassed, chased and headbutted in a sickening Halloween attack by a group of four people. , 50, , 24, , 20, and , 18, appeared together at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting the employee at the town's Society venue on October 31. The charge states the group repeatedly pushed him, threw a drink over him and threw a glass at him, striking him on the head with it. They repeatedly slapped him on the head, pinned him against a wall and headbutted him. The accused then repeatedly punched him on the head and body, pursued him into a private staff area and forced open a private door. They climbed over a counter in the bar area to gain access to further assault him. Next, they repeatedly kicked and punched him when he was on the ground, repeatedly stamped on his body and threw a plant at him, all to his injury. Three of the attackers were sentenced to unpaid work. A sheriff slapped a driver with a £940 fine after he was found to be more than four times the legal limit for cannabis. was caught by police on the A92 at Dundee's East Dock Street, near Market Street, on August 15 last year. Dundee Sheriff Court heard how officers received a tip-off the 27-year-old grounds worker was under the influence of the Class B drug. He was stopped just before 5pm and Keith, of Seton Terrace in Kennoway, admitted he had taken cannabis the night before. Keith pled guilty on the day he was due to stand trial that he drove with excess psychoactive constituent of cannabis (9.8mics/ 2). Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith, already unimpressed he was late to appear in the dock, asked solicitor Leigh Martin: 'When was his last joint? This is at five to five in the evening.' Ms Martin said it was Keith's position he last smoked cannabis at 11.30pm the night before. After disqualifying Keith from driving for 14 months and issuing the fine, the sheriff said: 'That should reinforce the error of his ways.'
The Courier
14-05-2025
- The Courier
Wednesday court round-up — Onlyfans threat and glazed eyes
A Broughty Ferry driver high on cannabis was caught behind the wheel on the A90 at almost double the drug-drive limit. First offender , of King Street, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to admit driving with excess Delta-9-THC (3.9mics/ 2). Police pulled him over near Muiryfaulds at 12.50pm on May 14 last year due to a minor vehicle defect and noticed a smell of cannabis. They noted the 27-year-old's eyes were glazed over. Solicitor Billy Rennie said: 'His position is he'd used it the night before.' Sheriff Mark Thorley disqualified Ramsay, who works in social media, from driving for a year and fined him £640. Three men have appeared in court following alleged break-ins at Perth city centre establishments. Police said arrests were made after incidents at Monterey Jack's and the Sandeman pub in the early hours of Saturday and Monday morning respectively. Laptops, money and alcohol were reportedly taken. Brothers , 32, and , 28, and 33-year-old appeared on petition at Perth Sheriff Court. The trio face multiple charges of theft by housebreaking. Zack De Schafta also faces an allegation of assault. The men made no plea and were remanded in custody. They are likely to make a follow-up appearance at the same court next week. Shamed Perth Scoutmaster was placed on a four-month curfew and the sex offenders register for five years. He was found guilty after a trial of pestering teenage boys with sexual messages, leaving them confused and frightened. A man has been fined after threatening to expose a woman's OnlyFans account to her father over a child maintenance dispute. Groundworker , of Hindley Green near Wigan, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to admit acting in a threating or abusive manner on May 25 last year. The 34-year-old pled guilty to making offensive remarks towards the woman in Forfar, threatening to advise her father of her use of the internet and attempting to coerce her into cancelling a child maintenance claim. During a phone call, he said: 'I have a lot on you, I'm giving you 48 hours to cancel the claim or I'm going to social services. 'I could be a c**t and ruin you with the evidence I have.' Prosecutor Lissie Cook added: 'He further threatened to tell the complainer's father that she was the owner of an OnlyFans account.' Solicitor Kyra Strachan said: 'He ultimately lost his temper and made threats.' Sheriff Mark Thorley fined first offender Abram £420 and said: 'I'm sure you appreciate you went about this the wrong way.' A pair of teenagers battered a man they lured to a Fife viaduct in the dead of night in a dispute over 'stolen cigarettes'. Masked and left their victim bloodied after attacking with a spanner on July 1 last year. A Dundee driver who crashed into an oncoming car after veering into the wrong lane has been banned from the road. was motoring along the A926 Alyth to Blairgowrie route in Perthshire when the collision happened on June 22 last year. The 26-year-old's Hyundai was seen by witnesses crossing the central line several times. At about 3pm, he drove into the opposing carriageway, into the path of a Volvo. Prosecutor Jill Drummond said Rehman's car struck the rear offside of the vehicle, causing damage to the side panel and causing a tyre to blow out. Rehman's car then mounted a grass verge. He appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of dangerous driving. Sheriff Alison McKay told him his driving was 'well below the standard of a competent driver.' She fined him £750 and disqualified him for a year.
