Thugs’ night-time spree kills birds

Nov 28 2009 by Laura Caroe, The Journal

TWO men could be facing jail for shooting nine protected sea birds at a North East beauty spot.

Dane Ord and Paul Reed launched the attack on the kittiwakes with an air rifle during the dead of night.

Now the pair, who both pleaded guilty at South Shields magistrates court to the intentional killing of wild birds yesterday, could face jail.

Three men were spotted by a member of public as they shone a lamp on the cliff face after midnight.

Reed, 27, was carrying a large torch and a battery pack, while one of the other two men carried an air rifle. A member of public watched on in horror as Reed shone the light at the cliff face as the gun was aimed in the same area.

As there was a delay in handing the case over to the CPS, one of the men is not facing charges.

Prosecuting Caroline McGurk said: “The man saw three men on the beach and watched as a bird fell from the cliff face, as the light followed the bird to the floor. Then two dogs attacked the bird.

“The same sequence of events was repeated five times. The man who was watching found five kittiwakes and there were four others in the same area.”

After blasting away at the protected species, medium-sized gulls which have yellow bills, a police helicopter was called to the National Trust spot and a CCTV camera caught the men dumping the gun in a cave.