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Spalding antique shop owner sentenced for selling illegal ivory and tiger tooth




An antiques store owner who sold endangered taxidermy animals, a tiger tooth and illegal ivory goods has avoided a jail sentence.

Justin Grimshaw, 71, of Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, appeared before Boston Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday, May 21) when he admitted a total of 12 charges relating to the sale of items between 2019 and 2024.

Grimshaw has been given a four month custodial sentence which has been suspended for 12 months but was spared jail time due to his age and health issues. He was fined £500 and was ordered to pay costs and surcharge of £239.

Justin Grimshaw at Pendragon Antiques
Justin Grimshaw at Pendragon Antiques

Police seized the items during a raid on Pendragon Antiques, in Spalding’s Red Lion Street, when officers from our Rural Crime Action Team visited last year.

As a result, Grimshaw was charged with 12 offences contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulation 2018 and the Ivory Act 2018.

DC Aaron Flint, the Force Wildlife Crime Officer, said: “The illegal and unregulated trade in endangered species in the UK has a devastating impact on wildlife populations around the world. Iconic species continue to be illegally killed every day, making it vital that those fueling this appalling trade are held accountable.

A kestrel. Photo: Lincs Police
A kestrel. Photo: Lincs Police
A tiger tooth. Photo: Lincs Police
A tiger tooth. Photo: Lincs Police

"I hope this message underscores the gravity of these crimes and serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering involvement in such unlawful activity. Lincolnshire police take this type of offending very seriously and anyone found committing this type of crime will be dealt with robustly.”

Having been tipped off that illegal items were on sale officers visited Pendragon Antiques, in the town’s Red Lion Street, in May 2024. They found offered for sale a taxidermy pine marten (Martes Martes), a barn owl (Tyto Alba), a kestrel on a branch (Falco Tinnunculus), a kestrel in a case (Tyto Tinnunculus), a sawfish (Pristidae) rostrum, an ivory picture frame, an ivory sphinx/lion figure and an ivory and silver presentation trowel.

Officers again visited Pendragon Antiques and the home address of Grimshaw when they executed a search warrant in August 2024. They were looking for an item that had been seen on body worn video footage in a glass display cabinet. The item, a tiger tooth (Panthera Tigris) was found and seized.

A kestrel in a case. Photo: Lincs Police
A kestrel in a case. Photo: Lincs Police
A pine marten. Photo: Lincs Police
A pine marten. Photo: Lincs Police
The rostrum. Photo: Lincs Police
The rostrum. Photo: Lincs Police
A stuffed barn owl. Photo: Lincs Police
A stuffed barn owl. Photo: Lincs Police
A presentation trowel with ivory handle. Photo: Lincs Police
A presentation trowel with ivory handle. Photo: Lincs Police

Further research revealed three sawfish Rostrums on sale online between June 2019 and January 2024.

Grimshaw was interviewed under caution by officers in March 2025; in his account he indicated he did not realise he could not sell the items and did not realise they were subjected to the various pieces of legislation.

Here are the charges:

- A taxidermy Pine Marten was offered for sale on April 25, 2024 in Spalding

- A barn owl was offered for sale in Spalding between May 18 and 25, 2024

- Kestrel on branch was offered for sale in Spalding between May 18 and 25, 2024

- Kestrel in case was offered for sale between May 18 and 25, 2024, in Spalding

- A tiger tooth was offered for sale in Spalding on August 14, 2024.

- Sawfish Rostrum (modified extension of the skull) was offered for sale in Spalding on May 25, 2024

- Sawfish Rostrum was offered for sale on December 15, 2023 in Spalding

- Sawfish Rostrum was offered for sale in Spalding on January 24, 2024

- Sawfish Rostrum was offered for sale in Spalding on June 20, 2019,

- Breached the prohibition on dealing in ivory by keeping or offering an ivory and silver presentation trowel priced at £850 on May 25, 2024, in Spalding

- Breached the prohibition on dealing in ivory by keeping/offering to sell an ivory picture frame on April 25, 2024, in Spalding

- Breached the prohibition on dealing in ivory keeping/offering to sell an Ivory sphinx/dragon figure in Spalding on May 25, 2024.



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