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Birds and Hares: A Village Shop Horror Scene
23 Jun
Summary
- Man sentenced for possessing dead birds and 50 hares.
- Birds and hares were found dumped outside a village shop.
- DNA evidence linked the defendant to the dead birds.
A man has been sentenced for the disturbing discovery of dead birds of prey and 50 hares found outside a village shop. James Kempster, 39, received a 15-month community order, including electronic monitoring, for possessing two dead birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The prosecution described the scene as a "horror movie scene".
DNA found on a barn owl and kestrel, discovered alongside the hares with blood smeared on the shop window on March 15, 2024, was linked to Kempster. While he was cleared of criminal damage charges related to the incident, the court heard that the evidence placed his handling of the birds close to their discovery. Kempster, who has previous convictions for wildlife crimes, denied the offending and suggested he may have been framed.
CCTV footage showed three individuals in a car, with two masked men dumping the hares. One man smeared blood on the storefront before stuffing the dead birds under the door handles. The vehicle used in the incident was later found burned out. Kempster's prior convictions include trespassing for game and dishonesty.
