MARK REID AND JOHN STEWART CAUGHT HUNTING HARES IN DUNDEE AND PERTHSHIRE

Mark Reid, born on August 18, 1970, and his son John Stewart, born on February 7, 1995, have been convicted of engaging in illegal hare coursing activities in Scotland. The incident took place at West Cultmalundie Farm, near Perth, on November 2, 2015, where the two men were caught deliberately hunting brown hares using three dogs. The case drew significant attention due to Reid’s history of wildlife crimes, marking this as his third conviction for such offenses.

Reid’s previous convictions for wildlife-related crimes cast a long shadow over the case, highlighting a pattern of illegal activity. John Stewart, who was previously residing at Balgate Mill in Kiltarlity near Beauly in the Scottish Highlands, and more recently at Balmoral Terrace in Dundee, was also implicated in the incident. The court proceedings revealed that the two men watched as their dogs tore apart the hares, with the carcasses of the animals displayed during the trial to underscore the brutality involved.

During the court hearing, witnesses provided detailed accounts of the events. One witness, Robert McElwee, testified that he observed two lurchers pulling a hare apart in the field. He described seeing the men with their dogs, lined out across the field, actively hunting for hares. McElwee also recounted that one of the men shouted “video that” as they recorded the scene, footage which was later handed over to the police and shown during the trial. He further stated that he saw one of the dead hares lying by the side of the road.

Police Constable George Westwood confirmed witnessing two individuals running away with dogs across the field, both dressed in Barbour-style jackets. The police recovered two fresh, limp hares from a nearby stubble field, indicating recent activity. The evidence presented during the trial painted a clear picture of illegal hare coursing, a practice that is highly controversial and illegal in Scotland.

Legal arguments during the trial included defense statements from solicitor Douglas Williams, who argued that Reid’s background and previous convictions, including a prior conviction for similar activity in Forfar, should be taken into account. Williams emphasized that hare coursing is still practiced legally in Ireland, where Reid often travels, and suggested that Reid’s involvement in such activities is normalized in his community.

However, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis expressed serious reservations about Reid’s attitude towards his actions. The sheriff noted that Reid’s behavior and attitude indicated a lack of remorse and a disregard for the law, making it unlikely that a significant fine would be effective. The court’s judgment reflected concern that Reid does not consider his actions wrong and has no intention of changing his ways.

Sentencing for Mark Reid resulted in a four-month jail term, along with a six-year ban on keeping dogs, which expired in March 2022. John Stewart was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and was banned from keeping dogs for two years, with the ban expiring in 2018. It is noteworthy that Reid’s prison sentence was later overturned on appeal in October 2016, but the case highlighted ongoing issues related to wildlife crime and illegal hare coursing in the Dundee and Perthshire regions.