Bird thief banned and jailed for six months

A SERIAL egg thief has been banned from entering Scotland for life during the bird breeding season and branded “a wildife destroyer” by a sheriff.

Matthew Gonshaw, who had already been excluded from coming to Scotland between 1 February and 31 August for ten years by an English court, was also jailed for the maximum six months allowed by law yesterday.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson told the 49-year-old from Bow, London, she would have jailed him for longer if the law had allowed her.

She said: “You have been unable to provide any explanation for your twisted behaviour and have shown no remorse whatsoever. You may call yourself a wildlife collector. You are in fact a wildlife destroyer.”

The court heard Gonshaw had gone to a nature reserve on the island of Rum. Later police searched him and found 20 eggs and an egg blowing kit in his rucksack.

Gonshaw admitted illegally taking and destroying seven meadow pipit eggs, and five others that could have been reed bunting or black cap as well as eight Manx shearwater eggs. This species can only lay one clutch a season.

Seven golden eagle eggs and eight osprey eggs were found in his home among a large collection. For this, he was jailed for six months at Thames Crown Court.

Defence agent Craig Wood said Gonshaw had become “fascinated” with bird watching and birds eggs at an early age because his father was a butterfly collector. He added: “He has never sold any, but he realises he has to stop and accepts he has no justification for taking eggs.”