LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE CRACK DOWN ON HARE COURSING GANG, JOSEPH KING AMONG OFFENDERS
A group of hare coursers have been ordered to pay over £34,000 in fines, kennelling fees, and court costs.The four men were stopped by police while traveling in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke.
They were intercepted at around 1.45pm on Thursday, October 10, shortly after a report was made about men, a vehicle, and dogs pursuing prey on farmland.
The incident took place in Holbeach St Marks, a rural area in south Lincolnshire.
Officers observed the Ford being driven and pulled it over, discovering five individuals inside along with four sight hound dogs in the rear.
The vehicle's number plate was deliberately smeared in mud to obscure it.
The police seized the dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones.
All four men were charged with being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.
They pleaded not guilty but were found guilty at Lincoln District Magistrates' Court on August 28.
The case against a 15-year-old boy was dismissed.
PC Karen Irving, of the Rural Crime Team, commented: "Don’t come to Lincolnshire hare coursing.
The dogs were seized, and because the four men refused to sign them over, they have incurred £28,560 in kennelling and welfare fees.
The court ordered that they would not be getting their dogs back.
We are committed to preventing this harmful activity.
Protecting our rural communities and wildlife is our daily mission." Elijah King, 20, and Joseph King, 41, both of Teston Road, Offham, West Malling, Kent, were each fined £750.
Elijah Moore, 44, from East Sussex, was also fined £750.
Charles Lee, 42, from Kent, received a fine of £1,250.
They must also pay £7,140 in compensation for kennelling and welfare costs.
All four individuals received a Criminal Behaviour Order banning them from entering Lincolnshire between July 31 and April 30, which coincides with the hare coursing season.
The order prohibits them from entering any of the five counties under the East of England agreement—Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire—either alone or with others, and from possessing any tools or instruments used for poaching during the day or night.
Additionally, a Deprivation Order was issued for four dogs, including two brindle greyhounds, a cream lurcher, and a black and tan saluki greyhound, along with assorted leads and collars.
The offenders are also required to pay court costs of £162.50 and a victim surcharge of £300 (£500 for Charles Lee).
