By Eric King-
A man is facing jail for illegally collecting more than 5,000 rare bird eggs Daniel Lingham, 65, was spotted “head-to-toe in camouflage gear” picking eggs up off the ground at Cawston Heath in Norfolk in May.
Lingham was convicted of similar offences in 2005 when he was jailed for 12 weeks for illegally collecting 3,603 eggs, the court heard. He pleaded guilty on Friday to taking nine linnet eggs at Cawston Heath, and possessing 75 wild bird eggs from species which are in decline, and possessing 4,070 ordinarily protected wild bird eggs.
Lingham also admitted two counts of possession of articles capable of being used to commit an offence – items found during the search, and boxes and bird reference books found at his home. Lingham told magistrates: “I didn’t realize how many eggs there were. I didn’t count them.”
Mitigating for Lingham, James Burrows had been referred to a mental health team and was being treated for obsessive compulsive disorder.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard he was searched by police, who then visited his home and found thousands of eggs.Chairman of the bench Jeanne Heal bailed him until 27 November and said: “We’re looking at a quite lengthy custodial sentence.” Lingham, of Newton St Faith, Norfolk, admitted five offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Chairman of the bench Jeanne Heal bailed him until 27 November and said: “We’re looking at a quite lengthy custodial sentence.”
Cops found a total of 5,266 eggs of species including nightingales, nightjars, turtle doves, chiffchaffs, little-ringed plovers, woodlarks and kingfishers at his home.
Colette Harper, prosecuting, said police searched Lingham after he was reported by a member of the public on 21 May.
“He disclosed he had eggs on his person and produced two small tubs,” she said. Cops found Lingham had a catapult, binoculars and tree climbing spikes with him, and he told them: “I’ve been a silly man, haven’t I?”
They searched his home and found tubs containing eggs under his bed and in the kitchen and living room.