I can see the outcome of this..."Six months...suspended sentence." ie Gets away with it.:-C
The bastards got away with it, what a suprise!.
Ridiculous.The "funny handshake" brigade looking after each other again,regardless of the Law. :C
Sentence report.
A Suffolk police constable who amassed a collection of 649 rare birds' eggs has been given a suspended jail term.
Michael Upson, 52, of Sotherton, Suffolk, admitted possessing eggs from protected birds including marsh harriers, warblers and nightjars.
Norwich Magistrates' Court heard Upson was arrested after RSPB inspectors and police officers searched his house.
Upson, who is no longer a police officer, received a 14-week sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He must also pay £120 in legal costs and complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
So much for a suitable punishment. :-C
He didn't get a £120 fine, that was costs. He got 150 hours community service which is far in excess of a speeding fine! I'm not saying it was proportionate but when you want to rant at least get your facts right. People have got 150 hours for causing death by drink driving.
Except he will have a criminal record. If that matters much to him ...Providing he pays the £120 within an agreed timescale and performs the community service satisfactorily and is not found guilty of another criminal act within 12 months from the date of sentencing that will be the end of the affair
Much as I dislike the bloody-thirsty reactions to wildlife crime characteristic of most threads on the subject, I must say that the penalty in this case seems ludicrously inadequate. I don't know if I'd advocate actual jail time, but a really stiff fine for habitual criminality on this scale would surely be appropriate?
His social circle of friends in the legal world would have backed him up, and given their moral support to get him out of his 'crime'