Woman fined for selling illegal elephant ivory on eBay

Sheriff George Way told the court: “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.”

Bell had claimed to be selling items made with “bovine bone” to get around eBay’s ban on ivory trading, but collectors knew she was selling prohibited goods.

The court was told that Bell spent years selling costume jewellery to China and other countries and had made £6,412 as a result.

Bell also admitted fraudulently evading export duty payments by exporting items without a permit.

She further admitted exporting, or trying to export, ivory goods without applying for, or obtaining, export permits.