Sportsman waved rifle after being found with dead deer in car boot

A sportsman waved a rifle at forestry workers who found the butchered carcasses of illegally obtained deer in the boot of his car, Perth Sheriff Court has heard.

Company director Cyril Boulton pointed the weapon at the men when they stopped to quiz him and his co-accused John Roberts.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that estate workers Sean Marsh, David Hay and Alasdair Cameron were “horrified” to have the high-powered rifle aimed in their direction.

They were placed in a state of fear and alarm before Boulton unloaded the magazine from the rifle during the incident on Atholl Estates in Perthshire on April 5 last year.

Depute fiscal John Malpass told the court that when the duo’s car was searched, five deer were found in the boot. Four had their heads and feet chopped off.

Boulton (75), of Barnsley, admitted being in possession of two fallow deer does which had been killed out of season on April 5.

He also admitted breaching the peace by producing the rifle while he was in conversation with the trio and pointing it in their direction before unloading the spent cartridge and magazine.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis fined Boulton and Roberts each £750.