HAMPSHIRE HARE COURSERS LEONARD PINNICK AND SHANE JEFFERIES BUSTED IN HAMPSHIRE

In a significant crackdown on illegal hare coursing activities, Hampshire police have successfully prosecuted a group of individuals involved in this illicit activity within the Hampshire Hare Coursing Ring area. The offenders, all known to be travelers from the Hampshire region, include Leonard Pinnick, Shane Jefferies, Lloyd Jefferies, Martin Buckland Jr, and Martin Buckland Sr. Their convictions mark a notable milestone, as this is the first time Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has secured convictions under the new legislation introduced in April 2022, specifically targeting hare coursing offences under sections 63 and 64 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

On the evening of January 18, 2023, law enforcement received a distress call reporting suspicious activity on farmland near Itchen Abbas, a rural area within Winchester. Witnesses observed a group of individuals arriving in two vehicles, a Mercedes and a Jeep, and subsequently damaging crops as they prepared to engage in hare coursing. Responding officers quickly arrived at the scene and located the vehicles. During the encounter, the Jeep reversed abruptly and collided with a police car, escalating the situation. The police managed to detain the occupants of the Jeep, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed three lurcher dogs, five dead hares, bolt croppers, and a lamp used for night-time hunting.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes fled the scene but was tracked to Southampton, where police intercepted and detained the vehicle’s occupants. Inside the Mercedes, officers discovered two additional lurcher dogs, two dead rabbits, a slingshot, and another lamp. These findings provided further evidence linking the individuals to illegal hare coursing activities.

Following thorough investigations, five individuals were formally charged with various offences related to hare coursing. They appeared before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on August 3, 2023, and all pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Leonard Pinnick admitted to trespassing with the intent to hunt hares using dogs, as well as being equipped with tools for such pursuits. Shane Jefferies also pleaded guilty to trespassing and possession of equipment for hare hunting. Lloyd Jefferies faced additional charges of criminal damage and dangerous driving, alongside trespassing and possession of hunting equipment. Martin Tony Buckland and Martin Eli Buckland similarly pleaded guilty to trespassing and possessing tools for hare hunting, with the latter also admitting to criminal damage and dangerous driving.

Further court proceedings took place on September 25, 2023, where additional penalties were imposed. Lloyd Jefferies and Martin Eli Buckland were ordered to pay £550 each in compensation to the landowner, covering the full £1,100 worth of crop damage caused during the incident. Jefferies received a 12-month driving ban, requiring him to complete an extended retest, along with a two-year ban on owning dogs. He was also sentenced to a two-year community order, which mandated 200 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay costs associated with kennelling the seized dogs, court fees, and a victim surcharge.

Similarly, Buckland faced comparable costs and bans, including a 12-month community order with 50 hours of unpaid work, and a two-year ban on dog ownership. The other passengers, including Martin Tony Buckland, received community orders and fines, with specific requirements such as unpaid work hours and bans on owning dogs for two years. Notably, Martin Tony Buckland was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work and fined £40, alongside costs and bans similar to the others.

Additionally, a 17-year-old boy, also involved in the incident, was arrested and remains under police supervision as authorities work with the Youth Offending Team to determine an appropriate course of action.

Police Staff Investigator Andrew Williams, from the Country Watch team, emphasized the ongoing threat of hare coursing to rural communities. He stated, “Hare coursing is a scourge on our rural communities. It involves the senseless persecution of wildlife, whilst also making life miserable for innocent farmers and landowners, who suffer trespass and damage to their property which accompanies this type of offending.” Williams further highlighted the police’s commitment to tackling this issue, especially with the new legislation providing enhanced powers to prosecute offenders and recover costs. He urged residents to remain vigilant, especially during the autumn months when hare coursing activity tends to increase, and to report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 999 if a crime is in progress.