SEMI-PROFESSIONAL footballer Daniel Curran shot dead a goldfinch because he was bored, a court has been told.

The 21-year-old had been helping to clear out rats from old buildings on the Horton Road industrial estate in Devizes on November 28 when he took aim with an air rifle.

Curran, from Drayton, Abingdon, pleaded guilty before Kennet magistrates in Devizes on Tuesday to killing a wild bird in contravention of the Wildlife Act of 1981.

Simon Benchley, prosecuting, told the court that the shooting was seen by a woman from her home nearby.

She was looking out of her kitchen window when she saw Curran take aim with a rifle. She went upstairs and saw him shoot into an ash tree. She was sure he hit one bird because there was a flurry of feathers and a bird flew away.

He took aim again and this time a bird fell out of the tree onto the ground below.

Curran was said to have looked at the bird and walked off. The witness phoned the police. They found the dead bird and spoke with Curran, who said he had been aiming at rabbits.

In mitigation, duty solicitor Tim Hammick said he was a little surprised Curran hadn't been offered a caution.

Mr Hammick said: "He had no idea the birds were protected by law. He had accompanied his father who was clearing out old buildings in the area. The site was overrun by rats which is why they brought the rifle.

"But boredom took over and his attention drifted towards the tree. He did not realise it was a goldfinch, he thought it was a sparrow.

"He is not a cruel person and he very much regrets what he did."

Mr Benchley applied to have the gun forfeited and destroyed but Mr Hammick said Curran's father would like to have the gun back as it was the most effective way of dealing with rats that infested the sites where he worked.

The magistrates fined Curran £160 with £55 costs but did not grant the application for forfeiture and destruction of the gun.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We welcome the police's decision to prosecute this man. Shooting goldfinches with air rifles is unacceptable these beautiful birds are native to this country and this was a totally pointless act.

"The RSPCA, like the police, will not hesitate to take action against people who illegally use animals for target practice."

The RSPCA has been campaigning for many years for tighter controls on air guns.