A Welsh farmer has been convicted of the illegal use of pole traps. Huw Griffith Jones of Brynaerau farm, Rhosfawr, Pwllheli, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the use of gin traps on fence posts – otherwise known as a ‘pole trap’ – in August 1996.
Mr Jones, who was not in court, was fined £2,500 for permitting the traps to be set contrary to Section 5(1)(f) of Wildife and Countryside Act 1981; and £500 for killing a mistle thrush in the traps contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. He was also ordered to pay £54 costs.
The case was brought by North Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. A total of 17 gin traps on fence posts were found at the scene including one live crow and one dead crow in a trap, ten dead crows with broken legs, one jackdaw with no legs and a partly decomposed mistle thrush.
Source: League Against Cruel Sports
