Pest controller fined for bee killing antics

A pest controller from Yorkshire has been fined £1,000 after killing thousands of honey bees, and putting human health and the environment at risk.

Sheffield magistrates ordered John Allison to pay £1,000 in fines and costs after he pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to take all reasonable precautions whilst using an insecticide containing bendiocarb.

An investigation found that Alison had not been given the required training to use the product, and therefore had used the insecticide without wearing the necessary eye protection and safety clothing.

Alison also used the insecticide in windy conditions to kill wild bees, but did not tell bee keepers in the area that he was doing so. Because of his actions, thousands of honey bees were killed.

The court was told that Alison was a ‘good example of how not to carry out a pest control treatment’.