AN EAST Lothian man has been sentenced to 180 hours of unpaid work for snaring offences on a farm near Haddington.

Craig Aitken was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for using animal snares, as well as stealing the GPS fitted cameras that led to his arrest.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to wildlife crimes carried out in January last year at Seggarsdean Farm.

He also admitted to stealing cameras which had been placed covertly by the Scottish SPCA with the land owner’s permission.

Aitken was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and given a Restriction of Liberty Order, requiring him to stay home between 9pm and 8am for a six-month period.

Footage obtained from the cameras between January 23 and 27 last year showed Aitken checking and apparently re-setting one of the 47 homemade snares he had set along the 300-metre fence line.

When inspectors returned to the farm, near Haddington, they found that the cameras had been stolen and the snares had been pulled safe.

The cameras housed GPS devices which led to police searching his home.

Gary Aitken, Procurator Fiscal, wildlife and environment, said: “The use of snares is governed by legislation and their improper or illegal use can compromise the welfare and conservation status of protected species and other wild animals and represents a threat to livestock and pets.

“Craig Aitken set a number of illegal snares without the land owner's permission in a way likely to cause any animals coming into contact with them to become suspended on the fence, causing unnecessary suffering and death.

“We are committed to eradicating this type of offending and will continue to work with the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland to ensure that those who commit such crimes are brought to justice.”