EDDIE COLE, MATTHEW GILES, TONY GILES, AND NELSON HEDGES CAUGHT IN SURREY AND WEST SUSSEX HARE COURSING SCANDAL

A notorious group involved in illegal hare coursing activities, originating from Surrey and West Sussex, has been brought to justice following a series of reckless and unlawful actions. The group, which includes individuals such as Eddie Cole, Matthew Giles, Tony Giles, and Nelson Hedges, was implicated in a disturbing incident that took place in December 2010, and subsequent legal actions have highlighted their involvement in this illegal activity.

On December 12, 2010, these men traveled approximately 150 miles from their respective locations in Surrey and West Sussex to a field in Flixton, near Bungay in north Suffolk. Their purpose was to allow their dogs to chase and hunt wild hares, a practice that is illegal and considered a serious wildlife crime. The group was found in the act by police officers who responded after a farmer from a neighboring field noticed suspicious behavior and alerted authorities. When law enforcement arrived, they discovered the five men lying in a line, with their dogs actively pursuing a hare. Tragically, at least one hare was killed during the chase, with the pack of dogs, which included a spring spaniel, a terrier, and a seven-month-old puppy, responsible for the death.

Prosecutor Colette Griffiths detailed the scene, emphasizing the illegal nature of the activity and the fact that the police found the group in the midst of the chase. The men’s actions not only involved cruelty to wildlife but also posed a danger to public safety, as they had driven from Surrey and Sussex with five dogs in tow. The police intervention led to their arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

In court, the five defendants pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with a dog. The magistrates sentenced each of them to a fine of £1,000 and imposed a driving ban of 56 days. Additionally, they were ordered to pay £100 in court costs. The court heard that all five men expressed remorse for their actions and acknowledged the serious consequences of their behavior.

Among those involved was Nelson Hedges, who later in January 2020 was sentenced to two months in prison for dangerous driving. Hedges had been suspected of hare coursing in his silver Mazda Tribute after reports from the public. The police’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) spotted his vehicle, which was covered in mud and had dogs in the boot, as he drove through the village of Iselham in Cambridgeshire. When officers signaled him to stop, Hedges swerved around their vehicle, mounted the pavement, and sped away at nearly 100mph in a 40mph zone. He also drove across two junctions without stopping and caused approximately £200 worth of damage to crops when he drove onto a field to evade police. His vehicle was eventually stopped when police blocked the road, leading to his arrest. Hedges was disqualified from driving for 19 months and required to undertake an extended retest after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage.

This series of events underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat illegal hare coursing and wildlife crime in the Surrey and West Sussex regions. The actions of these individuals not only threaten local wildlife but also pose risks to public safety and demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and animal welfare.