FARMER FINED £500 FOR SHOOTING DEER
Date : 31.01.08

A newton ABBOT farmer, who admitted shooting two roe deer out of
season, has been fined £500.Craig Stone, 27, of Ruddycleave Farm,
Newton Abbot, pleaded guilty to the charge before magistrates sitting
at Torquay yesterday.

The same charges were dropped against Tom Cleave, 24, of Mill Leate
Farm, Newton Abbot, and James Hudson, 22, of Grange Road,
Buckfastleigh.

Stone, who had permission to shoot foxes and rabbits in fields at
Manaton, said in a police interview he was aware of a closed season
for shooting deer, but did not know when it was.

He was fined £500, ordered to pay £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard Stone was seen after dark on April 7 shooting at deer
by a woman who had known him for 10 years.

The woman was driving towards Widecombe-in-the-Moor when she saw two
deer caught in the spotlights of a four-wheel drive vehicle in fields.

She heard gun shots and saw one deer running off and another
staggering away.

She called the police before stopping the car as it left the field and
attempted to take keys from the ignition.

When police arrived, they saw the dead deer in the back of the vehicle
and took two shotguns from the party.

Solicitor Nigel Butt said his client is 'a responsible man in all
areas of his life save for this mistake'.

He farms his own land and is called on by local landowners to control
pests, usually rabbits and foxes.

Mr Butt added: "He was there legally and the intention of the three of
them was to shoot rabbits and foxes.

"On their journey, they came across deer. Different animals have
different open and closed seasons and for different sexes.

"They were female deer, but if they were bucks it would be legitimate
to shoot them at this time of year," he said.

"It was a spur of the moment decision which he made independently.

"He did not stop to think whether it was open or closed season or what
sex they were. He did not intend to do anything bizarre with them or
sell them on," he said.

Mr Butt said that his client does not go out drinking and partying.

"He works long hours with his responsibilities on the farm," he said.

No forfeiture order of the shotgun was made.