In 2026, 49-year-old Russell Douglas Mason—a gamekeeper at the Milton of Drummie Estate near Blairgowrie—was sentenced at Perth Sheriff Court for the brutal killing of a protected Goshawk. The investigation established that on 12 February 2024, Mason was filmed by RSPB covert cameras entering a crow cage trap on Cochrage Moor and beating the trapped bird of prey to death with a stick. The prosecution reported that Mason struck the rare raptor six times before bagging the carcass and driving away, identifying a total abandonment of human decency and a calculated strike against Scotland’s natural heritage.+2
The investigation established that Mason was already a convicted sex offender at the time of these new offences. The prosecution reported that he had previously been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for one year following an act of public indecency near a sheltered housing complex in Blairgowrie. During a search of his home on the estate following the Goshawk killing, police also recovered 195 rounds of ammunition that were not stored in accordance with his firearms licence, identifying a serial of strikes against both wildlife protection laws and public safety regulations.+2
RAPTOR PERSECUTION AND JUDICIAL SENTENCING
The court reported that forensic analysis by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) found Goshawk DNA on a cudgel recovered from Mason’s vehicle. The investigation established that an avian vet who reviewed the RSPB footage concluded the bird would have suffered multiple fractures and a painful death. The prosecution reported that during the sentencing on April 24, 2026, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) emphasised the importance of protecting rare species from such brutal and unnecessary actions, identifying the conviction as a testament to collaborative forensic and investigative work.+1
Judge-led proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court concluded on April 24, 2026. For his actions in Perthshire and the nature of the serial wildlife crime and firearms investigation reported, Russell Mason was handed a 200-hour Community Payback Order for killing the Goshawk. The investigation established that he was also fined £890 for the firearms offences. Despite his status as a former sex offender, the sentence focused on his recent serial of strikes against protected wildlife and licensing laws.+3
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS (2026)
Based on judicial, COPFS, and Police Scotland records as of April 25, 2026:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Killing a Goshawk; Breach of firearms certificate).
- Custodial Status: NON-CUSTODIAL (In 2026, serving 200 hours community payback).
- Offence Nature: Battered a trapped Goshawk to death; Illegally stored 195 rounds of ammunition.
- Forensic Profile: DNA found on a cosh; Caught on RSPB hidden cameras; Identified via vehicle registration.
- Previous Record: Former sex offender (Public indecency conviction); Placed on the register for one year.
- Firearms Status: Convicted of failing to store ammunition securely at his home on the shooting estate.
- Sex Offenders Register: Previous notification requirements are part of his permanent criminal record.
- DBS/PVG Status: Convictions for violence and sexual indecency impact eligibility for regulated activity.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Perth Sheriff Court; investigated by Police Scotland and RSPB.
- Criminal Record: Convicted wildlife killer; Serial offender; Struck against protected species in 2024; Jailed/Fined in 2026.
- Origin: Milton of Drummie Estate, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2026, Mason is managed as a convicted offender under the statutory requirements of his Community Payback Order in Perthshire. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his serial persistence in using violent force against a trapped animal and his history of public indecency—he remains a person of concern for local wildlife and public safety authorities. Authorities reported that the 2026 sentence identifies an individual who prioritised the destruction of a protected bird over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of Scotland’s wildlife.+1
As a convicted criminal with a history on the Sex Offenders Register, his details are permanently logged on the national police database to prevent future offences. Authorities stated that the behaviour of Mason identifies a serial commitment to violating protective laws. Any future attempt to strike against his community order or firearms restrictions results in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community and local wildlife from a man who used a “gamekeeper” mask to hide his predatory serial behaviour.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was a convicted sex offender who used a “Gamekeeper’s Role” to brutally kill a protected bird, do you believe the law should legally mandate that “All Shooting Estates” must perform “Mandatory Criminal Record Checks” on all staff to prevent individuals with a history of striking against the public from being granted access to firearms and wildlife?
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.