Subsidy cut after poison offence

A Borders farmer has become the first UK landowner to have his agricultural subsidies cut after his gamekeeper was convicted of wildlife crime offences.

James McDougal runs Blythe Farm and its small shooting estate near Lauder.

The Scottish Government has now cut almost £8,000 from his single farm payment and beef calf scheme payments.

Gamekeeper George Aitken was convicted at Selkirk Sheriff Court in June of setting traps holding live pigeons and lacing dead pheasants with poison.

He was sentenced to carry out 220 hours community service.

Now the government has cut £7,919 from his employer's European farming grants for failing to protect wildlife.