Brora man fined after shooting blackbird

Brora man Nicolas Carter has been fined £150 after he admitted shooting a blackbird in his garden.

The 22-year-old scattered bread in the garden of his home at 19 Victoria Drive to attract the bird and then shot it with an air rifle.

A neighbour observed the incident on 15 May last year and reported it to police, Dornoch Sheriff Court heard today.

“The bird was clearly injured and suffering and the neighbour, who was incensed, intervened and killed it,” said procurator fiscal Alasdair MacDonald.

Carter, who pleaded guilty to intentionally and recklessly injuring a wild bird, told police he had shot the blackbird to feed to his ferret.

At Tuesday’s court, he also admitted another charge relating to a separate incident on 2 May - 13 days prior to the shooting.

He admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting and swearing at water bailiffs John Bray and Norman Brooks at the River Brora and outside Bridge End Stores.

Fiscal Mr MacDonald said Carter had been in dispute with the two bailiffs over whether or not he was entitled to fish a particular stretch at the mouth of the River Brora. He had researched the issue on the Internet and was convinced he had a right.

Matters came to a head on 2 May outside the shop, located next to the river, when the two bailiffs attempted to confiscate Carter’s fishing rod.

“At this point Mr Carter lost his temper and began to shout and swear. There was a brief struggle when Mr Bray tried to take hold of the rod and Mr Carter tried to pull it from him. Mr Bray decided not to push the issue,” said the fiscal.

“The water bailiffs decided to report the matter to police and Mr Carter set off with the intention of continuing to fish.”

Asked by Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist if Carter was correct in his assertion that he was entitled to fish the stretch of water, fiscal Mr MacDonald said: “I think there is an argument to be advanced.”

Defence agent Eileen Macinnes said Carter had been having an “informed debate” with the two bailiffs regarding fishing rights and he did have a point to argue. However he had ruined his case by “losing the plot.”

She continued: “As far as the other matter is concerned, my client did not realise at the time that it is an offence to shoot a wild bird, although he now knows that to his cost.

Ms Macinnes told the court that the month after Carter had committed the two offences, he had been sent to prison in relation to another matter. He was released in August 2012 and had since turned over a new leaf.

“This has been a very serious wake up call for my client. He has advanced and reached the stage where he realises the consequences of his actions, not only for himself but also on others. He is also now in gainful employment as a labourer with a local contractor,” she said.

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist deferred sentence for six months on the charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

As well as fining Carter on the shooting charge, the sheriff agreed a Crown motion for forfeiture of the air rifle.