A gamekeeper kept a coded diary of the birds of prey and badgers that he killed using illegal traps and snares, a court was told yesterday.

Kyle Burden, 19, kept a detailed tally and tried to disguise those shot or clubbed to death illegally by recording them in code.

His killing was halted when two other gamekeepers, appalled at the toll he was taking of wildlife, blew the whistle on him.

He admitted intentionally killing two buzzards, trying to kill two more and clubbing to death two badgers. He confessed to setting eight illegal spring traps and two counts of possessing a shotgun while committing a crime.

He asked for six more offences of killing badgers and eight of setting spring traps to be taken into consideration, but his diary suggested that his toll was much higher.

The legal deaths of more than 300 rabbits appeared to be noted alongside coded entries suggesting he shot 102 buzzards, 40 ravens and 37 badgers. The code came to light when he boasted in a pub what his symbols meant, Telford Magistrates’ Court was told.

Mark Thomas, investigations officer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said after the hearing: “This is a truly horrifying case. Wildlife on this estate was killed brutally and systematically. Birds of prey were shot, badgers trapped and bludgeoned to death, seemingly without a second thought. The lack of respect for nature, the disregard for the law and the arrogance involved in these crimes was total.”

As a result of the case the RSPB plans to set up a telephone hotline to offer a simple means by which gamekeepers and other witnesses can report crimes against birds of prey.

Mr Thomas added: “Huge thanks are due to the gamekeepers who came forward and let us know what was happening at this estate. Their actions were brave and public-spirited and show the decent, law-abiding face of gamekeeping.”

The magistrates had been told by Phil Mason, for the prosecution, that the diary was seized after complaints by fellow gamekeepers at the shoot prompted the RSPB to launch an investigation.“One of the witnesses saw Mr Burden shoot a number of buzzards and also club to death a number of badgers that had been caught in snares,” he said.

Burden was told the offences were so serious that were it not for his youth and previous good character he would have been sent to jail. Instead, he was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.

Claire Brentnall, chairman of the magistrates, told Burden, of Lydbury North, Shropshire: “We appreciate that you are very clearly remorseful and we have also taken into account your good character.”

Burden maintained that he shot so many animals because he wanted to protect the pheasants and partridges at the Kempton Estate, which charges close to £10,000 to take part in a shoot. He denied any wrongdoing initially but he was said in court to have shown genuine remorse.

Huw Williams, for the defendant, said: “This man was born and bred in the countryside – he knows full well what he has done is wrong. He did it to help other birds – that’s the paradox of this case. He thought he was doing right by his flock of birds.

“In this world of shooting, which is a huge industry, the likes of Kyle Burden are used to prepare the shoots. There has to be a set number of birds for those with money to come to these estates and enjoy the kill.”

Burden, who yesterday received a letter from the estate notifying him that he had been dismissed, had seen his stock of birds drop from 18,000 to 12,000 before the offences, magistrates were told.

A second estate worker has denied offences relating to spring and cage traps and will stand trial later.

Times Recommends

• Tree stump 'shows image of Virgin Mary'
• BBC drops Strictly judge for younger model
• Trafalgar Square 'reduced to a spectacle'