UK auctioneer faces hefty fine for selling bird eggs

A Northumberland auctioneer faces a hefty fine after trying to sell a cabinet containing bird eggs. Police arrested Jim Railton, from Chatton, after a member of the public saw the cabinet in a sales catalogue. The cabinet contained 54 eggs of species including kestrels, guillemots and razorbills. Mr Railton was charged with exposing or publishing for sale bird eggs, which carries a maximum six-month jail term or a £5,000 fine for each item. He told magistrates he was ignorant of the law surrounding the sale of bird eggs and was trying to sell the cabinet and its contents on behalf of a client. The hearing was adjourned until a later date for sentencing.