A PARTIALLY heard appeal by a Lake District farmer against his conviction for disturbing rare ospreys has been adjourned for a second time.
Paul Barnes, 59, was found guilty last August of two offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The 59-year-old was deemed to have recklessly disturbed a pair of rare ospreys raising young chicks in a nest close to Bassenthwaite Lake on June 13 in 2017 while leading a party of schoolchildren on an educational trip on part of his farm.
Mr Barnes’s appeal against that conviction began at Carlisle Crown Court last month. However, the hearing was halted part-way through due to technical problems with a video link from Thailand over which a witness was due to give evidence, and adjourned for several weeks.
It was due to have resumed at the crown court today (TUES). But after submissions this morning by lawyers in the case, the hearing was adjourned for a second time after it emerged that material crucial to the appeal had not been made available to the appeal panel, which comprises a judge and two magistrates.
It is now due to resume on March 22, when remaining witnesses – including Mr Barnes – are due to give evidence before the panel announces its ruling.
