WANSTEAD: Jail for bird poison pair (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WANSTEAD: Jail for bird poison pair

3:54pm Monday 18th October 2010 in Redbridge News By Ryan McCarthy

Alexandra Lake, Wanstead, after it was sealed off in March this year

TWO council workers who killed almost 100 wild birds for fun have been jailed.

Terrence Webb, 28, and Mark Page, 35, intentionally poisoned wildlife at Wanstead Flats, killing 90 birds including geese, moorhens, ducks and coot.

The pair were working for Newham Council as pest controllers and they used bread laced with posion to carry out the crime.

Snaresbrook Crown Court today heard that during their lunch breaks on March 8 and 9 the men drove to Alexandra Lake at Wanstead Flats and baited bread with a strong pesticide.

They later boasted of what they had done, describing how crows had taken the bait and they had watched them die.

A German shepherd which was the only companion of an elderly woman was also killed by the poison.

They derived personal amusement from the death of birds and caused the death of a pet dog

PC David Flint

The popular beauty spot had to be cordoned off to the public for more than three weeks as a result of the incident.

The Metropolitan Police's Wildlife Crime Unit worked with officers from Natural England's Wildlife Management Team and tests established the poison used was a pesticide commonly used to control infestations of cockroaches, fleas and bed bugs.

PC David Flint, of the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit, said: "These men showed a complete disregard for public safety with the indiscriminate use of dangerous chemicals.

"They derived personal amusement from the death of birds and caused the death of a pet dog.

"It is small consolation following the destruction caused that these men were brought to justice."

Paul Butt, senior specialist with the Wildlife Management and Licensing Team of Natural England, said: "The deliberate and reckless use of pesticides as occurred in this case is both illegal and irresponsible.

"The fact that this action was taken by trained professional pest controllers is of particular concern.

"The placing of toxic material in areas to which the public and animals have access poses a significant hazard to wildlife and domestic animals, and could expose the public particularly children, to the risks of being poisoned.

"The successful outcome of this case was made possible by the co-operation between the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit, Natural England, Newham Council and other agencies without whom it would not have been possible to bring the matter to the attention of the court."

Webb, of Peregrine Road, Ilford and Page, of White Hart Lane, Romford, were sacked by Newham Council following the investigation into the incident.

The pair admitted two counts of misuse of pesticides and two counts of theft of pesticides.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges relating to the storing of pesticide and the theft of a sprayer.

The pair were fined £7,000 each and jailed for four months.