Badger death Royal worker fined

Robbie Elliot admitted a charge at Stonehaven Sheriff Court

A gamekeeper has been fined £450 after a badger was killed by a snare on Prince Charles's estate on Royal Deeside.

Robbie Elliot, 45, admitted a charge under the Wildlife and Countryside Act at Stonehaven Sheriff Court.

The badger was found in May last year, trapped in a fox snare in a forested area on Birkhall estate.

Mr Elliot had failed to check the equipment as required under the legislation.

The court heard a fine might lead to potentially "catastrophic" effects on Elliot's gamekeeping future.

'Incredibly powerful'

He declined to comment after the case.

Ian Hutchison, of Scottish Badgers, told BBC Scotland: "I think it's a great pity this chap has committed this offence. Legislation was made specifically to make sure snares were checked every 24 hours.

"It's a welfare issue, you have got an animal trapped in a state of fear and alarm. Badgers are incredibly powerful animals and would fight against the snare.

"They should be released, and this has not happened."

He added: "These incidents keep happening again and again."