Man jailed for stealing Peregrine Falcon eggs from cliff edge
Date of alert:
Thursday 18 January 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
Derbyshire Constabulary
A man has been jailed after abseiling down a quarry cliff face to steal Peregrine Falcon eggs.
Christopher Wheeldon was caught on hidden cameras – that had been set up by the RSPB to protect the falcons – as he abseiled down the limestone quarry near Bolsover in April 2023.
With officers alerted Wheeldon was identified and arrested. Search warrants were conducted at two addresses which found the clothing seen in the video – but sadly the three eggs he stole were not there and were never able to be retrieved.
Wheeldon, of Two Dales in Derbyshire admitted his part in the 23 April egg theft – and eventually pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing Peregrine Falcons and taking the eggs.
On the 15th January the 34-year-old appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court where he was jailed for eight weeks for two counts relating to the birds.
