Man arrested after more than 50 animal carcasses found outside Broughton Community Shop

A 37-year-old man has been arrested after more than 50 animal carcasses were dumped outside a shop in Hampshire.

A staff member encountered a “horrifying” scene at the Broughton Community Store opening on March 15.

Police were called and found about 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl outside the store.

An investigation by officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police’s Rural Watch Team found the barn owl and kestrel had been shot dead.

Both birds are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection.

The arrested man was charged with criminal damage, nocturnal poaching, killing a Class 1 bird and killing a brown rabbit during the closed season.

He was also charged with breaching the Public Order Act, the Animal Welfare Act and the Firearms Act.

Police said late Thursday that he remained in custody.

National Watch Detective Superintendent Stuart Ross said: “Since this incident we have been actively conducting a multi-faceted investigation and working with partner agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We would like to thank the local community for their assistance and for their patience while we investigate the incident.

“There may be people with knowledge of the matter who have not yet come forward, and if so we would urge them to come forward as soon as possible.”

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Owl found ‘impaled on door handle’

The store’s treasurer, Mike Hensman, said barn owls and kestrels were found “stuffed” on door handles and there was blood on the windows.

He told Sky News: “It was chaos, there were dead hares on the ground all the way through here, it was horrific.”

“There was a dead raptor and bird of prey on the door and an owl tattooed on the door handle. There was blood everywhere.”

He described the shock of staff and villagers having to remove the remains.

“We cleaned everything up, had the police come in and had to wash out all the windows and throw everything away.

“We brought in a local farmer to dispose of all the dead hares and we just carried on with our business because that’s what you do in the community. We serve the community. We have to keep going.”