Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper covertly filmed trying to kill hen harrier fined in landmark case

A gamekeeper who was caught on covert camera trying to kill a protected bird has been fined following a landmark prosecution.

In October 2024, a hidden camera placed by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) captured footage of three men on Grassington Moor, using radios and speaking in code to discuss shooting towards and killing wild birds, including hen harriers.

Police analysis showed that one of the men – later identified as gamekeeper Racster Dingwall – was in possession of a semi-automatic shotgun for the sole purpose of killing a hen harrier.

Racster Dingwall, 35, of Ellingstring in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to two charges at York Magistrates’ Court, including conspiracy to kill a hen harrier at Grassington Moor on 2 October 2024.

Dingwall was ordered to pay a total of £1,520 in fines, victim surcharge and prosecution costs. It's believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in English law.

No charges were brought against the other unidentified individuals.

After the sentencing hearing, Inspector Mark Earnshaw, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The cruel and illegal persecution of hen harriers and other birds of prey is totally unacceptable.

“This outcome at court follows a thorough police investigation, and incontrovertible evidence. It should send a strong message to anyone else engaged in this criminality: they will be investigated, identified, and put before the courts to face the consequences of their actions.”

Mark Thomas, RSPB's UK Head of Investigations said:

“This landmark conviction has shone a light on this issue, revealing the lengths individuals will go to in order to illegally target these protected birds of prey.

"Shockingly, over 100 hen harriers have been confirmed or suspected to have been illegally killed on or near grouse moors in the UK in just the last five years.

"The RSPB will not rest until the future for this bird is secured and that can only happen with legislative change. Government licensing of grouse shooting is now essential to change practices in this sector."

All wild birds are protected by law, and ‘Schedule 1’ birds, including hen harriers, have additional protection.

The RSPB, describes the hen harrier as "the most intensely persecuted of all the UK's birds of prey".

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