A TOP wildlife campaigner has appeared in court, accused of wildlife offences – only for the case to be promptly abandoned.

Professor Sir John Lawton, who is a national vice president of the RSPB and president of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and of the York Ornithological Club, attended York Magistrates Court, accused of breaching the Wildlife Act at Heslington in April last year and May this year.

Sir John, 73, of Holburns Croft, Heslington, was charged with intentionally or recklessly disturbing a wild bird while it was on or near a nest containing eggs or young, and was due to stand trial last week.

But the Crown Prosecution Service told the court it was offering no evidence, as it would not be in the public interest to proceed with the case, and the matter was dismissed.

District Judge Adrian Lower said it was a ‘very sensible decision’ that it was not in the public interest to prosecute a 73-year-old man of unblemished character, who had devoted a large amount of his life to the protection of birds through his position within the RSPB.

He added that he hoped Sir John had ‘learnt a valuable lesson.’ Sir John’s solicitor, Kevin Blount, of Howard & Byrne Solicitors, said afterwards he was relieved that the matter was over, having always denied any wrong doing.

He said the case revolved around two occasions on which Sir John had walked along a public footpath in Heslington, and was alleged to have disturbed peregrine falcons nesting on electricity pylons.

He said Sir John - who has chaired a Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in the past and chairs York Museums Trust - denied having disturbed the birds and said his only concern had been for their welfare.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said bird of prey persecution was a national wildlife crime priority, and all reports would be thoroughly investigated by the force.

The spokesman said: “We respect the decision made by the Crown Prosecution Service in this case, and the investigation will be reviewed in due course.”

CPS Senior Crown Prosecutor Malcolm Christy told The Press that the case was initially charged by North Yorkshire Police on October 11.

He said that prior to the defendant’s first appearance at court last week, the case was reviewed by the CPS Yorkshire and Humberside specialist on wildlife crime.

“After consultation with North Yorkshire Police and the RSPB, it was agreed that whilst there was sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction, it was not in the public interest to proceed with the allegation due to the defendant’s age and the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offence,” he said.

“As a result no evidence was offered and the matter was concluded."