GAMEKEEPER BEATS RARE BIRD OF PREY TO DEATH AT PERTHSHIRE ESTATE
Russell Mason admitted killing a protected goshawk by bludgeoning it six times with a cudgel.
He was captured on camera at Cochrage Moor, near Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, where RSPB Scotland officers installed a static camera to monitor crow traps.
Mason was seen unlocking the trap, capturing the goshawk, and striking it six times with a cosh, leading to a painful death.
The court heard the bird looked healthy before, and the injuries suggested it did not die instantly.
Mason also pleaded guilty to illegally storing firearms ammunition outside a secure container at his home.
His home was searched, and items associated with the killing — including the dead bird's carrier bag, net, and cosh — were seized, all DNA-matched to the goshawk.
Mason has a previous conviction for public indecency from 2012, and was on the sex offenders register.
He gave no comment during police interview, and sheriff Alison McKay deferred sentencing for background reports.
This is a probabilistic continent or country-group signal from public name datasets. It is not proof of nationality, ethnicity or personal background.
Likely region signal
UK
Country
from United States
- based on first name
47.6%
confidence
First-name region
UK
United States
47.6%
Surname region
UK
United Kingdom
43.5%
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Verified Conviction
Detected legal outcome
luding the dead bird's carrier bag, net, and cosh - were seized, all DNA-matched to the goshawk. Mason has a previous conviction for public indecency from 2012, and was on the sex offenders register. He gave no comment during police inte...
