Man sentenced for stealing thousands of birds' eggs

An egg collector who illegally hoarded thousands of wild birds’ eggs has today been sentenced.

Daniel Lingham, 71, of Newton St Faith, Norfolk, was captured on a wildlife trap camera on 9 June 2023 stealing two eggs from a Nightjar nest in Holt Lowes.

A subsequent search of his home revealed he had amassed 2995 eggs most of which (2429) were protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Of those 548 were from native birds on the amber list of birds of conservation concern and a further 546 were of the most serious concern on the red list including Linnet, Green Finch, Yellowhammer, House Sparrow and many more.

A further collection of eggs - which looked much newer - was found behind the bath panel including a box containing a pair of Nightjar eggs with a label ‘Nightjar 2, Holt Lowes June 9.’

Officers also found identifying books, binoculars, and an egg blowing kit.

Lingham admitted to five offences at an earlier hearing in February.

Appearing for sentencing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday 3 May 2024 he was handed 12 week jail sentences for the taking of wild birds' eggs and for two counts of possessing wild birds' eggs, eight weeks for possession of equipment  and 12 weeks for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

All were suspended for 18 months to run concurrently.

He was also handed a 12 month mental health requirement, 15 rehabilitation days, and ordered to pay £482 in costs, compensation, and victim surcharge.

Lingham had previously been convicted of similar offences in 2005 and 2018 and still has four years of a ten year Criminal Behaviour Order left to run.

PC Chris Shelley from the Op Randall Rural Crime Team said: “It is disappointing that we were here again for a third time with Lingham again having taken whole clutches of eggs for his personal collection and having a huge negative impact on local wild bird populations.

“Having today been sentenced we hope this is an opportunity for him to reflect on his behaviour and get the help he needs to end his illegal egg collecting.

“Although the hobby has largely fallen out of favour we remain alive to the risks and ask the public to be alert too under Operation Owl, a national initiative that asks the public to be our eyes and ears out in the countryside to tackle the taking of wild birds' eggs.

“In the UK all wild birds, their nests, and their eggs are protected by law and if you see any suspicious activity please call Norfolk Police on 101.”

Tom Grose, RSPB Investigations Officer, said: “It's clear Lingham has a serious disregard for nature and the law, driven by his obsessive need to collect eggs.

"It was hoped that the behaviour order, issued in 2018, with its additional tougher penalties would have seen an end to Lingham's offending but sadly that hasn't happened.

"This latest hearing has taken into account his mental health issues, but we are concerned that the penalty given today may not effectively deter or prevent Lingham from committing these offences again and fear that we will see Lingham in court again.”