Information Update 04/2012
Issued: 12th January 2012
On the 6 January 2012 at Preston Crown Court, Allan Armistead of Hulleter Farm, Ulverston was fined £7,000 and sentenced for offences under the Food and Environment Protection Act and the Firearms Act.
Mr Armistead was fined for seven counts of storing unapproved pesticide products, including Strychnine, Cymag and Rentokil Phostoxin, and was sentenced to 140 hours of community service for firearms offences. In addition to the fine costs of £2,315 were awarded against Mr Armistead.
Proceedings were taken against Mr Armistead by Cumbrian police following investigation of the death of a Red Kite under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme. The judge made it clear that there was no case to answer in relation to the Red Kite that sparked the investigation.
Background
Cumbrian police assisted by Natural England undertook an investigation into Mr Armistead, following the finding of a Red Kite poisoned with an insecticide – bendiocarb. During the investigation Mr Armistead premises were visited and a number of unapproved pesticides and firearms were found.
Mr Armistead was prosecuted under Section 16(12) of The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and Regulation 4 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended) for the storage of unapproved pesticide products (these products included Strychnine, Cymag, Phosdrin and Rentokil Phostoxin) and under the Firearms Act of 1966 (as amended) for the firearms offences. Following the case Mr Armistead has had his firearms licence and shotgun certificate revoked and has had to surrender all weapons and ammunition.
