We have welcomed the conviction of 34-year-old former head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall at York Magistrates Court on Thursday 29 January, following his guilty plea for conspiring to kill a hen harrier on 2 October 2024. According to North Yorkshire Police[1] it is thought to be the first time a charge of encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007 has been used in relation to bird of prey persecution.
Footage and sound recordings[2] obtained lawfully by the RSPB’s Investigations Team were instrumental in detecting this crime and securing the conviction. Without this incontrovertible evidence the case would never have been brought to justice.
Ann Shadrake, Executive Director of Friends of the Dales, said:
“Racster Dingwall worked as the Head Gamekeeper on the Conistone and Grassington Estate, a large commercial grouse moor in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. He was employed in a highly responsible, trusted and senior role so it beggars belief that he was not fully aware of his legal responsibilities to protect, not persecute, wildlife. He apparently completely disregarded the full legal protection that has been in place for more than 70 years to stop persecution of all birds of prey, including hen harriers.
“This is not a case of a spur of the moment error of judgement. This crime was planned. Mr Dingwall went equipped with a semi-automatic shotgun for the sole purpose of killing a hen harrier. He communicated with two of his keepers by radio and they spoke in code to discuss shooting towards and killing wild birds, including hen harriers, a buzzard and a raven which are all legally protected.
During the trial District Judge Adrian Lower noted that there are no sentencing guidelines for wildlife crime. Under general guidelines, a custodial sentence of 6 months or unpaid community work were options but the final outcome was a fine of £400 per offence plus costs.
In our view this paltry amount does not reflect the seriousness of the crime nor the impact on rare and beautiful birds of prey.
Sign up to our e newsletter to keep up to date with our Eyes on the Skies campaign as it develops. In the coming weeks we will defining some clear asks regarding harsher sentencing for wildlife crimes; licensing for the gamebird shooting industry and the establishment of a National Wildlife Crime database.
[1] https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/news/north-yorkshire/news/court-results/2026/01-january/man-sentenced-for-bird-of-prey-persecution-offences-on-grassington-moor/
[2] RSPB press release and full video:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/hen-harrier-persecution