Two men fined after shooting deer 12 times before cutting its throat

Two men have been fined after a deer was shot 12 times with an air gun before having its throat cut open.

Edward Renner, of Dorset Road, Seven Sisters, London, and Ian Coley, of High Street, Thurlby, both pleaded guilty to deer poaching at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court.

Renner was fined £600 and Coley £350 including costs and victim surcharge.

The pair entered private woodland at Morton near Bourne on the evening of April 15 armed with an air rifle and knife.

They then shot a male Muntjac deer before eventually killing it by cutting its throat.

As the two offenders were preparing to take the deer away, they were spotted by PCSO Sandra Bromell who alerted officers from Bourne Police Station and the men were detained.

The deer was later found hidden in undergrowth and taken for an x-ray at Quarrington Veterinary Surgery, Sleaford.

It was then discovered that the two had shot the deer 12 times with a .22 air gun prior to killing it.

Rural crime officer, PC Martin Green, said: “These men had no permission to be in the wood with a firearm and an air weapon is not authorised in law to be used to shoot deer.

“I would like to thank the staff at Quarrington Veterinary surgery Sleaford for their assistance with the investigation and successful outcome in court.”