Pensioner loses bid to get licence back for £2,500 rifle and silencer following poaching convictions

Police have cancelled the firearms certificate of a pensioner with four poaching convictions to his name.

James Kennedy, 72, can no longer own or use his £2,500 .243 Sako rifle and silencer.

Kennedy appealed the police’s original move, but yesterday, Sheriff Richard Davidson upheld the police civil action in a written judgement stating the hunter ‘was no longer a fit person to be entrusted to be the holder of a firearms certificate.’

DNA was used in a case involving Mr Kennedy at Fort William Sheriff Court last year, when scientists matched a stag shot illegally on 9,000 acre Glenfinnan Estate to blood found in a van.

Previously Kennedy has been jailed twice for poaching offences, once despite being defended by the legendary Joe Beltrami at Oban court.

Yesterday Kennedy, who was elected ‘ Volunteer of the Year’ last year for his charitable and community work in his home area,was unavailable for comment.