A gamekeeper who trapped a protected bird of prey and clubbed it to death has avoided jail.
Perth Sheriff Court was shown shocking footage of Russell Mason catching the goshawk in a net and then using a cosh several times to bludgeon it to death.
But sheriff Mark Thorley spared him a prison term and instead fined him and ordered him to carry out unpaid work in the community.
He told the 49-year-old: ‘I can’t quite understand why you did what you did and only you will know.
‘Having seen the video I am non-plussed as to why the door was not simply opened
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