Barasingha skull seized from Saggerson’s home address’ – Credit: NWCU.
Jonathon Saggerson (47yrs) a professional taxidermist of Gadsden Court, Milton Keynes appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court today (10th March 2021) to be sentenced for offences relating to the prohibited purchase and offering for sale of the skull of a Barasingha, also known as a Swamp Deer (Annex ‘A’ species). Saggerson was also sentenced for a further offence of intentionally making a false statement in an attempt to obtain a permit, which was an attempt by Saggerson to legitimise the skull.
In May 2019, officers from the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit were alerted to an advert for a deer skull and antlers that had been posted on the internet auction site eBay. Officers were suspicious of the amount being asked for the skull, which far exceeded the price being asked for the skulls of common species of deer. Although the advert didn’t specify the species of deer, it was identified by officers as a Barasingha, also known as a Swamp Deer. Barasingha is an endangered species found in India. The species is listed on Annex ‘A’ of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The commercial use of Annex ‘A’ species and any parts or derivatives is strictly controlled and can only be purchased or sold if there is an exemption certificate in force, commonly known as an Article 10 Certificate. Antique taxidermy specimens that were worked prior to 1947 are exempt from the requirement for a permit, although this would not apply to an un-worked skull. The seller of the Barasingha skull would have required an Article 10 Certificate irrespective of its age. Officers were able to identify Saggerson as the seller.
On 17th June 2019 officers from NWCU, Thames Valley Police and UK Border Force (CITES team) executed a search warrant at Saggerson’s home address and seized various skulls, including the Barasingha that he had been offering for sale.
When interviewed Saggerson admitted listing the skull for sale and said that he had been unsure of the age, so had removed the listing from eBay. He later admitted he had purchased it for cash a few weeks earlier and that he knew it was a Barasingha. He also admitted that he knew it required Article 10 Certificates. He also acknowledged that he was aware that it was a modern specimen. He told the officers, “I was trying to wing it”.
Evidence gleaned from Saggerson’s phone showed that he had purchased the skull for cash about four days before he had put it up for sale.
Further enquiries revealed that after having removed the skull from sale, Saggerson had submitted an application to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in an attempt to obtain an Article 10 Certificate. In his signed application he had claimed that the skull had come from an antique taxidermy mount that he had owned for over 25 years, a claim that was clearly false and resulted in him being charged with the additional offence.
Today (10th March 2021) Saggerson was sentenced at Milton Keynes Magistrates having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing. He was fined £1384, plus costs and a victim surcharge of £223.
Barasingha also known as a Swamp Deer’ – Credit: RH Bendjebar
Following the hearing Andy McWilliam from the National Wildlife Crime Unit said: “Although he expressed remorse for his offending, Mr. Saggerson is a professional who was well aware of the legislation and the protection afforded to this rare species. In his own words he ‘tried to wing it’, but got caught out. These are international regulations intended to protect and conserve some of the world’s most endangered species. Compliance is not an optional extra and a person cannot pick and choose when they will comply. Anybody trading such species illegally can expect to be brought before the courts”.
