Suspended term for animal killer

Burden was given a 26-week jail sentence, suspended for six months

A former gamekeeper has been given a suspended jail sentence after admitting killing buzzards and badgers.

Kyle Burden, 19, from Kempton, near Aston-on-Clun, Shropshire, admitted killing them on the Kempton Estate near Craven Arms in 2007.

He was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for six months, at Telford Magistrates Court.

Afterwards the RSPB, which investigated the case, said it was pleased with the verdict.

Burden admitted nine charges, including killing and attempting to kill buzzards and killing badgers, all on the Kempton Estate where he was a gamekeeper.

His defence, Huw Williams, said he was acting to protect the pheasants on the estate and not because he enjoyed the killing.

But the magistrates said they believed he knew what he was doing was illegal.

Phil Mason, prosecuting, said there was no evidence that the buzzards were responsible for the losses of pheasants on the estate.