West Lothian mansion the third home raided for illegal rare birds’ egg

A MANSION in West Lothian became the third home raided by police searching for illegal rare birds’ egg collections, following an initial swoop on a house in County Durham three years ago, Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

News of the search came during the trial of Inverness prison officer Keith Liddell who denies 16 charges involving illegal trading of eggs. In total, over 14,000 eggs were seized in the three raids.

Former policeman with Lothian and Borders William Bryant, 50, told the trial he was in charge of a search for rare eggs of Wallhouse Mansion in Torphichen near Linlithgow, West Lothian,

He said owner Alan Hutton took him to a room where police found over 12,000 eggs. Several police vans were required to remove items from the property, including three computers.