LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE CRACK DOWN ON HARE COURSERS AND OFFENDERS FACE £34,000 IN FINES
A group of hare coursers have been ordered to pay over £34,000 in fines, kennelling fees, and court costs.The incident involved four men stopped by police while traveling in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke.
They were stopped around 1.45 pm on October 10, shortly after a call to Lincolnshire Police reporting men, a vehicle, and dogs chasing prey on arable land.
The police observed the Ford being driven and pulled it over, finding five people inside and four sight hound dogs in the rear.
The vehicle's number plate had been obscured in mud to conceal it, and police seized the dogs along with slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones.
The men faced charges of being equipped for searching or pursuing hares, but all pleaded not guilty.
They were found guilty at Lincoln District Magistrates' Court on August 28, while the case against a 15-year-old boy was withdrawn.
PC Karen Irving from the Rural Crime Team stated, "Donât come to Lincolnshire hare coursing.
The dogs were seized and because the four men refused to sign the dogs over, they have incurred £28,560 in kennelling and welfare fees.
The court ordered they wonât be getting their dogs back.
We will do everything we can to stop this vile offending.
Protecting our rural communities and wildlife is what we are here for, every day, all year." Elijah Moore, 44, from Hadlow Down, East Sussex, was fined £750 along with three others: Elijah King, 20, and Joseph King, 41, both of Kent, who also received fines of £750, and Charles Lee, 42, of Kent, fined £1250.
They are also required to pay £7140 in compensation for kennelling and welfare costs.
Additionally, they are subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order banning them from entering Lincolnshire during the hare coursing season (July 31 to April 30) and from entering any of the five East of England counties (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire) with dogs or poaching instruments during day and night.
A deprivation order was made for four dogs (including greyhounds, a lurcher, and a saluki) and several leads and collars.
They must pay costs of £162.50 and a victim surcharge of £300 (£500 for Charles Lee).
