Norfolk gamekeeper pleads guilty to offensive weapon charge

Dominic Green, 35, a gamekeeper at the Hilborough Estate - belonging to William van Cutsem, a close friend of Prince William and godfather to Prince George - was found there with a "police-style extendable baton".

The gated road entrance to Hillborough Hall (Image: Evelyn Simak/Geograph)Norwich Magistrates Court heard police were called to the Norfolk estate for "other matters" and a search was carried out of Green's vehicle.

Norwich Magistrates Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Nishma Shah, prosecuting, said the extendable baton was discovered in the search on April 29 last year.

The court heard it became illegal to possess the weapon after a change in the law in 2019.

Green, of Cockley Cley Road, Hilborough, near Swaffham, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at court on Tuesday (October 17).

Dominic Green leaving Norwich Magistrates Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)He had also been charged with taking a schedule 1 wild bird, a Goshawk, at the Norfolk estate on March 28 last year as well as causing the use of a decoy to kill or take a wild bird, namely pigeons, between April 10 and April 29 last year.

In addition Green had been charged with failing to ensure the welfare of pigeons between April 10 and April 9 last year.

But all other offences were "withdrawn" meaning the defendant only faced the offensive weapon charge which he pleaded guilty to.

Tim Ryan, mitigating, said Green had been a gamekeeper "since leaving school" and had been working at the Hilborough Estate since March 2018.

Dominic Green leaving Norwich Magistrates Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)He said his client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and deserved full credit for his plea.

Mr Ryan said the item Green had was an asp or "essentially an extendable truncheon".

He said Green have a full account in interview that he bought it from a firearms dealer in 2003 - when it was legal to have it and "lawfully bought" - at a time he was "coming into game-keeping".

Mr Ryan said: "It was part of the equipment he was putting together for his future career".

He added it was purchased as a "humane" way to "dispatch game or vermin".

District Judge David Wilson recognised the defendant was "essentially" of good character.

Recognising Green's plea and that the weapon "was not used to threaten or cause fear" District Judge Wilson Imposed a £1,000 fine.

He also ordered Green to pay £400 costs and a £400 victim surcharge.

Appearing alongside Green was William Richardson, 22, of Nethergate Street, Hopton, near Diss.

William Richardson (left) and Dominic Green leaving Norwich Magistrates Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)He had been charged with intentionally taking a wild bird included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, namely a Goshawk, at the Hilborough Estate.

He was also charged with causing use of a decoy, namely pigeons, to kill/take a wild bird at the Hilborough Estate between April 27 and April 29 last year.

He was also charged with failing to ensure the welfare of the pigeons, in that he did not provide adequate food and water, between April 10 and 29 last year.

But the court heard the matters faced by Mr Richardson, together with those other matters faced by Green, had been withdrawn.

Hilborough gamekeepers use legal methods for vermin control, including the shooting of foxes and trapping of crows.

Prince William is said to be a regular visitor to the Hilborough estate, near Swaffham, which has won awards for its conservation work protecting endangered species, including curlews, lapwings and grey partridges.

William Van Custem (Image: Newsquest)Mr Van Cutsem's father Hugh, who died in 2013 was a friend of King Charles, bought the estate in 1986 and began a programme to restore conditions for game and wildlife.

It is now regarded as one of the UK’s best game shoots.