A 72-year-old man has been charged after five goshawks were shot and killed in west Suffolk.

The birds of prey were found on Monday, January 16, having been left in a parking area near the B1106 in Kings Forest near Bury St Edmunds.

X-rays showed all five birds had suffered injuries from multiple pieces of shot.

On March 27, Suffolk police arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of breaching firearms licence conditions.

He was taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning before being released under investigation.

Francis Addison, from South Park, Weeting, has since been charged with the following offences.

These include five counts of possession of a dead schedule one wild bird, killing a non-schedule one wild bird, use of an animal trap in a circumstance for which it is not approved and two counts of possession of an article capable of being used to commit a summary offence - namely two air rifles and six animal traps. 

In addition, he has been charged with six counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a firearm certificate and four counts of failing to comply with the condition of a shotgun certificate.

Mr Addison is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 29.