A man and woman have been fined nearly £2,000 for destroying protected bird eggs in the Highlands. Storm Curtis, 21, from Ullapool, and Morag Morrison, 22, from Edinburgh, pled guilty to destroying over 40 protected bird eggs on Boralie Island, near the Kyle of Durness, on Tuesday, May 17.
Police have described the incident as a 'callous' and 'appalling' act, which saw the pair snatch the eggs from nesting birds at breeding time. They then deliberately smashed them up and threw them into the water on Loch Boralie.
At Tain Sheriff Court today (November 11) Curtis was slapped with a fine of £1,200 while Morrison was forced to pay £600.
Cops have welcomed the conviction, and reinforced that they are committed to probing wildlife crime. They want to hear from anyone with any concerns, queries or reports in relation to similar events.
Daniel Sutherland, Police Scotland wildlife officer, said: “This was an appalling act that destroyed a large number of eggs from protected species.
“The island has large numbers of common gull, black headed gull and sandwich terns. It is also one of the few places on mainland Britain with breeding corncrakes.
“Police Scotland will always investigate reports of wildlife crime fully and robustly. I would urge anyone with information on wildlife crime to report it via 101, or 999 if an emergency.”
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