The man who imported a fox carcass and dumped it along the Frankford Highway in October has been identified as a 59-year-old disability support pensioner from Beaconsfield.
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Raymond Edward Sidlauskas struck and killed the animal while driving at Diggers Rest on the outskirts of Melbourne.
After admiring the European red fox’s pelt, he wrapped it in a garbage bag and put it in the back of his ute with the intention of skinning it upon his return to Tasmania.
He told a magistrate on Wednesday that he forgot the carcass was there and dumped it near Exeter on October 30, after smuggling it past Biosecurity Tasmania officials at Devonport’s Spirit of Tasmania terminal.
He pleaded guilty to one count of importing a prohibited animal and one count of littering in a public place, not exceeding 55 litres or less in volume.
Sidlauskas faced jail time and fines of more than $23,000, but Biosecurity Tasmania prosecutor Colin Spry – accepting that the crime was a mere oversight – only requested he face a small fine as a means of public deterrence.
Magistrate Sharon Cure fined Sidlauskas $1500 and convicted him.
She acknowledged that he had no motive.
Sidlauskas believed his attention deficit disorder caused him to “act out” – and his decision to give up anti-depressants, painkillers and anti-inflammatories related to his cancer.
Sidlauskas apologised to Biosecurity Tasmania for the inconvenience and for causing “havoc or panic”.
He has prior convictions for road infringements.