Woman found guilty of taking rare rocks from mine site

A MINERAL collector has been convicted of damaging Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), including near Newton Stewart.

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Dagmara Lesiow Lasczcewski was found guilty of three charges of causing reckless damage to SSSIs by using a hammer to break rocks to collect rare minerals to sell.

Among the sites targeted was Talnotry Mine SSSI, near Newton Stewart, which is a historic mining location containing limited amounts of mineral-bearing spoil.

Specimens extracted by Ms Lasczcewski had been broken and advertised for sale online and at her shop, the Caledonian Rock Shop, in Glasgow.

The court was shown evidence of social media posts which placed Ms Lasczcsewski at the sites showing her intent to break rocks and extract minerals using hammers.

Efforts are now being made to return minerals, removed illegally from the SSSIs, to their rightful owners.

It is the first conviction of its kind in Scotland and Colin MacFadyen, geological advisor, with NatureScot said: “Scotland’s internationally important mineral heritage is an irreplaceable aspect of our nature with the best and most representative locations protected as SSSIs. We support mineral collecting for research, education and recreation, provided it is done responsibly, legally and in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

“However, exploitative collecting from vulnerable sites is unsustainable, especially if it is commercially driven. Rare and important minerals can become lost to science and put beyond public sight. In this case, we have seen some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and important protected mineral sites being targeted and damaged.

“We therefore welcome the verdict in this case and expect that it will serve as a deterrent against further damaging and illegal mineral collecting activity.”

Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, added: “It is highly important to preserve Scotland’s natural heritage, including the geology that forms part of it. As such, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are given strict protection by our law.

“COPFS takes offences in relation to damaging SSSIs seriously and action will be taken against those who commit such offences, where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the overall public interest to do so.”

Meanwhile, NatureScot believes up to 20 other protected mineral sites in Scotland may also be affected by damaging and exploitative mineral collecting by unknown individuals.

The agency is working to find out the extent of this.