A gamekeeper allegedly killed two wild birds at a breeding ground in the Forest of Bowland.

James Hartley, 33, of Bleasdale Lane, Bleasdale, near Preston is accused of shooting a peregrine falcon and trapping and killing another on April 13, as well as disturbing a nesting site.

He is also alleged to have set a trap to cause injury to a wild bird, intentionally taken a wild bird, possessed a dead wild bird, and caused unnecessary suffering between April 12 and 15 by trapping the falcon and leaving it for several hours.

Hartley faces two further counts he possessed a firearm capable of being used to commit an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

He will appear at the same court for his trial on February 12.

Source: Lancashire Post

Click here for full article.