Latest news with #RuralCrimeActionTeam
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Telegraph
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.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lambs left orphaned after mum stolen 'for meat'
Two newborn lambs have been left orphaned after their mother was stolen as police investigate a spate of livestock thefts in Lincolnshire. The ewe was stolen overnight from a small farm in the Spalding area on 24 March, leaving the owner to "bottle feed" the three-day-old lambs, Lincolnshire Police said. Owner Eleanor, who did not give her second name out of fear of being targeted again, said one of the newborns had become seriously ill and she feared the ewe had been stolen to be illegally butchered. The force said it had seen a "large increase" in animal thefts across the county in the last few months and it felt "sickened" by this latest incident. Eleanor, who had 10 ewes on her farm before the theft, said she had been left to hand rear the orphaned lambs even though she was "not a mum". "One of them is not thriving, it doesn't want to go on the bottle," she said. "You don't realise initially that one is gone, you count them, but you keep coming up with nine. "And then you get someone else to count them because you think you're going insane." Eleanor said she was very concerned about the ewe's health. She feared if the mother had infections and was butchered and consumed, the meat would be infected putting "people's lives at risk". PC Martin Green, from the force's Rural Crime Action Team, said officers had seen a large increase in sheep theft across Spalding, Boston and Skegness. He said there was only one reason people would steal the animals. "Obviously it's for the meat," he said. "We are finding the skins, fleeces, heads and stomachs dumped in various places around the county." Mr Green warned criminals against stealing animals, adding: "We will catch you." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. 'I've lost 4,500 sheep to thieves on Dartmoor' Alleged sheep rustler arrested after 63 ewes stolen Theft of 600 sheep prompts fears of illegal meat Lincolnshire Police
BBC News
04-04-2025
- BBC News
Spalding lambs left orphaned after pregnant mum stolen 'for meat'
Two newborn lambs have been left orphaned after their pregnant mother was stolen as police investigate a spate of livestock thefts in ewe was stolen overnight from a field in the Spalding area on 24 March, leaving the owner to "bottle feed" the three-day-old lambs, Lincolnshire Police Eleanor, who did not give her second name out of fear of being targeted again, said one of the newborns had become seriously ill and she feared the ewe had been stolen to be illegally force said it had seen a "large increase" in animal thefts across the county in the last few months and it felt "sickened" by this latest incident. Eleanor, who had 10 ewes on her farm before the theft, said she had been left to hand rear the orphaned lambs even though she was "not a mum"."One of them is not thriving, it doesn't want to go on the bottle," she said."You don't realise initially that one is gone, you count them, but you keep coming up with nine."And then you get someone else to count them because you think you're going insane."Eleanor said she was very concerned about the pregnant ewe's health. She feared if the mother had infections and was butchered and consumed, the meat would be infected putting "people's lives at risk". PC Martin Green, from the force's Rural Crime Action Team, said officers had seen a large increase in sheep theft across Spalding, Boston and said there was only one reason people would steal the animals."Obviously it's for the meat," he said."We are finding the skins, fleeces, heads and stomachs dumped in various places around the county."Mr Green warned criminals against stealing animals, adding: "We will catch you."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- BBC News
Lincolnshire Police warning after 10 pigeons shot in 10 days
Ten pigeons have been shot in 10 days with some found dead and a number of others Police said it was investigating several reports of an individual "shooting pigeons with an air weapon" in the George Street, Recreation Road and Baldwin Grove area of Martin Green, from the force's Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT), said 10 birds had been shot "over the last 10 days or so" but not all had been killed. A rook had also been shot and was found to the RSPCA, pigeons are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it was illegal - except under licence - to take, injure or kill wild birds. Pigeons 'shot in gardens' PC Green said he had found a dead pigeon, which had "clearly been shot", in the George Street area on said there were reports of "somebody using an air rifle in a built up area and shooting the pigeons."The officer said there was a "real risk" of pellets potentially ricocheting and injuring others."If you've got a problem in your garden, what you should do is apply for an individual licence."You can't just go shooting a pigeon in your garden because you don't like them."It's not just about the pigeon, it's the risk to people and their properties with pellets being fired indiscriminately from one garden to another garden and causing damage." The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said only "authorised persons" can be issued with a general licence to kill wild birds and for the purposes of "preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, fisheries or inland waters."Lincolnshire Police has appealed for anyone with information on the shootings to get in touch. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
White van seized in Chatteris after police checks uncover FOUR driving offences
A white van was seized in Chatteris after police checks uncovered four driving offences. Officers from our Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) spotted the vehicle in the town on Monday March 24. The van was seized after police systems revealed it was untaxed and that the MOT was expired. They also found that the driver had an expired licence and no insurance. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: "It is important to ensure that your vehicle is road legal, and all your documents are up to date before getting behind the wheel. "You can find out more about driving offences and its penalties on our website:
