A British man destroyed a peregrine falcon's nest and received a prison sentence (4 photos + 1 video)
A camera installed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) captured a man climbing down a cliff and destroying a peregrine falcon's nest. The incident occurred in the British town of Whaley in April last year. 
Christopher Wheeldon stole peregrine falcon eggs, which are sought after by collectors. The poacher was helped by an accomplice. 
During the investigation, it became known that the 34-year-old criminal suffered from heroin addiction and had already committed several thefts from stores.
Wheeldon lives in Matlock, Derbyshire, UK.
District Judge Stephen Flint, sentencing Wheeldon to 18 weeks in prison, told him: "It looks like you're not above stealing even birds. It might just be a way for you to make money, but you're damaging the environment."
Peregrine falcon eggs and chicks can fetch up to £20,000 on the black market.
Lynn Beakley, prosecuting, said: "The peregrine falcons can be seen and heard making alarm calls: the female turns her head and looks up. A green rope appears and Mr Wheeldon comes down with a container and insulated bag. He climbs into the nest, puts the eggs in the box, and then into an insulated bag."
According to her, the two birds continued to scream and remained in place until lunchtime the next day.
She told the court that Derbyshire has the second highest rate of thefts from peregrine falcon nests in the country.
Wheeldon pleaded guilty to stealing redbird eggs and five shoplifting charges, four of which occurred in the first week of January this year.
Claire James, the defendant's lawyer, said her client has two young children aged 4 and 11, is a qualified arborist and used to work for the railway until he was fired after testing positive for alcohol and drugs.
James added: "I can't say anything about this crime in terms of mitigation of sentence. He went off the cliff to get the eggs and says he can't explain why he did it."
Representatives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the eggs were most likely stolen to order, and the chicks were then sold abroad. British peregrine falcons are considered the genetically superior species and are expensive.
"The breeding grounds of these beautiful birds of prey are protected by law for a reason. Peregrine falcons are an endangered species and organizations including the RSPB are working hard to keep them safe and thriving in Derbyshire," said local policing officer Chris Wilkinson.
