Reserve ban for disturbing birds

The court heard Kinsley had a history of disturbing rare birds

A man has been banned from all UK national parks and RSPB nature reserves after he was convicted of disturbing a rare goshawk nest.

John Kinsley, 36, from Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, was also given a four month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £800 costs.

Llandudno magistrates heard he disturbed the birds at Clocaenog on the Conwy-Denbighshire border in May 2006.

Kinsley had a long history of disturbing rare birds the court heard.

The court was told that after Kinsley disturbed the birds, the pair left their nest and three eggs failed to hatch.

Parks ban

Kinsley was caught with a remote-controlled camera in Clocaenog and was charged under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to disturb a goshawk during the breeding season.

Britain has fewer than 500 breeding pairs of goshawks, which are large and secretive birds of prey which typically nest in areas of secluded woodland.

After sentencing, Guy Shorrock, senior investigations officer for the RSPB, said: "We are very pleased with the result, Mr Kinsley has a long history of disturbing rare birds."

The court also ordered the confiscation of items used by the defendants to commit wildlife offences .