Perthshire salmon poacher caught out by hidden cameras

Today’s letters to The Courier.

A poacher who became one of the first in Scotland to be caught out by a secret camera system has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Thomas Mullen was caught taking salmon from the River Ericht at Blairgowrie, near his Meigle home. Unknown to the 57-year-old, water bailiffs had set up a surveillance system such as that used to photograph wildlife and caught him red-handed.

Mullen had initially denied the offence, but eventually brought a trial to a halt earlier this year to offer a guilty plea.

He admitted that on May 12, at Cargill’s Leap, he fished for and took salmon without legal right and also that on that date, and again on May 29, he took salmon other than by a rod and line.

Sentencing him at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Sheriff Gail McDonald made Mullen, of Strathmore Place, subject to a community payback order.

She said: ”You have a lengthy criminal record. I am also concerned that you do not seem to appreciate the seriousness of what you have done.”