A FORMER Suffolk policeman who admitted illegally possessing 650 wild bird eggs, including some from the UK’s rarest species, has been spared jail today.

Michael Upson, who lives in the Halesworth area, amassed his collection over a 10-year period when he was also working for Suffolk Constabulary.

He denies any of the eggs, which included some from the woodlark, Cetti’s warbler and marsh harrier, were taken while he was on duty.

The 52-year-old was given a suspended prison sentence today at Norwich Magistrates’ Court after previously pleading guilty to two offences.

Upson received a 14-week suspended jail term for the charge of possessing 65 schedule one eggs, the most protected in the UK, and a concurrent 12-week suspended sentence for the remaining 585 eggs.

Eamon Lambert, chairman of the bench, said: “Your actions had a marked effect on the bird population and a serious impact on the environment.

“The sheer number of the eggs - 585 from charge one and 65 from charge two- is a serious number and a crime against nature and our sentence will reflect this.”

Upson must also complete 150 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay �120 toward court costs.