Sparrowhawk shot dead with pellet gun, glued to stick and dumped in plastic bag in South Yorkshire

A sparrowhawk was shot dead with a pellet gun and dumped in a plastic bag in South Yorkshire, having been glued to a bamboo stick.
By Sarah Marshall
Published 27th May 2022, 07:23 BST
Updated 27th May 2022, 07:23 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Launching an appeal this week, South Yorkshire Police said a dead sparrowhawk was found in a plastic bag in a drainage ditch in the Thorne area of Doncaster, close to the canal, on Sunday, April 10.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the bird of prey is believed to have been killed deliberately.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When the sparrowhawk was discovered by a member of the public, it had been stuck to a bamboo stick with glue.

Police are investigating after a dead sparrowhawk, believed to have been shot with a pellet gun, was found in Doncaster last monthPolice are investigating after a dead sparrowhawk, believed to have been shot with a pellet gun, was found in Doncaster last month
Police are investigating after a dead sparrowhawk, believed to have been shot with a pellet gun, was found in Doncaster last month

Investigating officer PC Sarah Barrowcliffe said: “Sparrowhawks are a protected species and it is an offence to harm them.

“This was a shocking act of violence against a beautiful and defenceless bird, and officers are working hard to identify those responsible.

Read More
'Good spirited' neighbour obstructs cowardly burglar's attempt to flee after rai...

“SYP is committed to the investigation of serious wildlife offences, including the killing of birds of prey.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The South Yorkshire Police spokesperson added that following an examination of the sparrowhawk, it was determined that the bird had been shot with a pellet gun.

Sparrowhawks are a protected species, under Section 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The RSPB website states that the penalty for intentionally killing or harming a sparrowhawk is an unlimited fine and/or up to six months’ imprisonment.

If you have any information that can help officers, please call 101, quoting incident number 918 of April 11.

Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers via its website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling its UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.