Joyce Bell, who was caught illegally selling elephant ivory products for thousands of pounds, was fined £1,400. Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time.
More info A pensioner who made thousands of pounds from the illegal trading of ivory products has been fined £1,400. Joyce Bell had been warned she could be sent to prison for up to 12 months for the illicit trade of banned ivory products on website Ebay . But Sheriff George Way showed her mercy after noting she was a pensioner with no previous convictions and imposed a fine with an additional £75 victim surcharge.
She was ordered to pay at £200 per month. Sheriff Way said he accepted that Bell had little idea about the illegality of her trading and "had made no bones" about her involvement. He said: "She is genuinely remorseful about the whole thing and did not realise the ramifications of the trade in ivory.
In my opinion most first offenders can be dealt with by a financial penalty. The trade in these items is generated by money. "If they weren't valuable to some people there wouldn't be an illegal trade and wouldn't be poaching and the other horrible things we know about.
She made no bones about it...
that was genuinely not a pun and I apologise for that." Solicitor John Boyle, defending, said: "She has no previous convictions and there has been no further offending. I'm very confident in saying this is a lady who will not troub.
