Jun 18, 2009, 11:16 GMT
One of Britain's Queen Elizabeth's gamekeepers has been fined over a dead badger.
Robbie Elliot, 45, admitted failing to check a fox snare at least once a day at Birkhall, which is part of the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was fined £450 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court.
A man had discovered the badger in a fox snare - known as a midden - on April 27 last year and found it was still there on May 4.
When police were alerted and checked the area the following week, it had been removed but a badger corpse was later found in the area.
The gamekeeper - who has over 20 years of experience - told police he was aware of a badger being caught in the snare about a month previously, was aware they should have been checked daily but "could not provide any explanation" as to why they hadn't been checked.
Elliot admitted committing the offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 between April 27 and May 4 last year but denied a second charge of failing to check a snare, which was accepted by the court.
His solicitor said his client believed he had lifted the snares - which are set between October and March - but accepted he "must have missed this snare which trapped the badger" and claimed Elliot's wife leaving him and the death of the head gamekeeper last April had had a significant effect on him.
He called for the court to impose a lenient sentence as anything severe - including a fine - could see his client have his general license restricted, preventing him for carrying out his duties.
Sheriff Patrick Davies said he could not admonish Elliot but hoped he could obtain a licence which would not have too severe an impact.
He added: "I must seek to punish you appropriately and I must also seek to deter others from falling into human error such as your own."
A spokeswoman for the Balmoral Estate said they take wildlife offenses "very seriously" and that Elliot, who was previously suspended over the incident, will be subject to another internal disciplinary procedure.
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