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Owl and Kestrel DNA Links Man to Bird Dumping
24 Apr
Summary
- Man's DNA found on birds rammed into shop door handles.
- He was found guilty of possessing dead wild birds of prey.
- Fifty dead hares were also found outside the village shop.
James Kempster has been convicted of possessing dead wild birds of prey following an incident at a volunteer-run shop in Broughton, Hampshire. DNA belonging to Kempster was identified on a barn owl and a kestrel that were found rammed into the shop's door handles. The court heard that three men had targeted the shop in the early hours of March 15, 2024, creating what was described as a "horror movie scene."
Fifty dead hares were also discovered outside the shop. While Kempster's DNA was linked to the birds, magistrates found insufficient evidence to convict him of criminal damage or definitively identify him as the person who dumped the hares and birds. He denied involvement during police interviews, stating he had no explanation for his DNA being on the carcasses.
Kempster, who has prior convictions for poaching, was found guilty of two counts under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. He will be sentenced in June. The investigation into who left the hares and birds remains open, with rural crime experts suggesting such acts are often used as intimidation or to send a message. The incident left the local community unsettled and has highlighted concerns about rural crime and intimidation tactics.
