Gamekeeper found guilty of poisoning birds of prey

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Allen Lambert, a 65 year old Norfolk gamekeeper, was found guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court on 1 October 2014 of two charges that relate to the killing of eleven birds of prey (a sparrowhawk and 10 buzzards) and possessing pesticides and other items capable of being used to prepare poisoned baits. Lambert had pleaded guilty to five other charges at an earlier hearing including pesticide offences and the possession of nine dead buzzards.

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers' Organisation said: "The NGO stands for gamekeeping within the law and we condemn these actions utterly. The selfish, stupid actions of one man - who was not and never has been a member of the NGO - must not be used to tarnish the good name of gamekeeping, which does so much for the countryside and its wildlife. The gamekeeping profession genuinely deplores those very, very few among their number who break the law. They are the pariahs of the modern keepering world, losing the right to call themselves gamekeepers in the eyes of their peers."

Allen Lambert has never been a member of the National Gamekeepers' Organisation.

Mr Lambert is due to be sentenced in early November 2014.

The National Gamekeepers' Organisation represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. It defends and promotes gamekeeping, gamekeepers and ensures high standards throughout the profession. It was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that their profession was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. The NGO now has more than 15,000 members.

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