James Stewart, a crewman on the Altaire, one of the UK's largest herring and mackerel trawlers, was seen by staff from Scottish Natural Heritage smashing in the seals' heads with a fence post on the island of East Linga in November last year.
Stewart, 47, from Symbister, on the fishing island of Whalsay, east of Shetland's main island, pled guilty to a charge of mutilating, beating and crushing the baby seals at Lerwick sheriff court yesterday. He refuses to say why he did it.
A not-guilty plea from his co-accused John Eunson, 44, a local ferry captain also from Symbister, Whalsay, was accepted by the crown. This case, one of the most significant in recent years, follows mounting anxiety about the scale of attacks on seals by fishermen and fish farm workers, who blame the mammals for destroying their nets and damaging fish stocks, threatening their livelihoods.
Sheriff Graeme Napier told Stewart: "I take a very serious view of the offending in this case. I can see no justification for it whatsoever." Before adjourning the case until 25 March for social inquiry and custody reports, he warned Stewart that a prison was an option he was considering, and repeatedly demanded an explanation for his action.
Under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, each offence carries a maximum fine of £5,000, leaving Stewart liable for a possible total fine of £105,000, or six months in prison per offence.
There's a graphic news video here.
2 comments:
Someone should club him to death.
some one should club u to death
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