Colne man killed ducks to feed bird of prey

A Colne dad-of-four who shot and killed two ducks told police he did it to feed to his bird of prey, a court was told.
Burnley Magistrates' CourtBurnley Magistrates' Court
Burnley Magistrates' Court

Jobi Lee Varey was caught in the Cotton Tree Lane area of the town where officers saw him going into the river to retrieve a dead bird. Varey, who had an air rifle, put the duck next to another dead bird on the grass.

Burnley magistrates were told how Varey struck without permission and out of the " duck shooting season". The 27-year-old ground worker said he often went to the area to shoot birds to feed his bird of prey.

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Mr Nick Cassidy, defending, told the hearing the large grassed area was the property of a landowner and Varey had been a regular visitor for some time. He had gone to shoot rabbits, which he had done previously, with permission.

The solicitor continued: "Police attended and spoke to the defendant. He doesn't try and run away and I think he was ignorant rather than committing an offence intentionally."

Mr Cassidy said the police weren't sure if an offence had been committed. They took Varey's details, made inquiries and found it had been out of the duck shooting period by about two weeks. The defendant attended at the police station voluntarily.

Varey, of Blascomay Square, Colne, admitted killing a wild bird - a Manky Mallard and a Mandarin duck, on April 17. He was fined £200, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The Bench chairman told him: "This was a killing that took place out of season and without permission. You cooperated throughout." He added :" It wasn't by accident. It was intentional."