WILLIAM MITCHELL, MICHAEL TRAVELL, AND GEORGE HARBER CAUGHT HARE COURSING IN NORWICH

In a serious case of illegal hare coursing, three men from Norwich—William Mitchell, Michael Travell, and George Harber—found themselves at the center of a police investigation that uncovered their involvement in this unlawful activity. Mitchell, born around 1984 and residing at Brooks Green Gypsy and Traveller Site on Mangreen Lane in Keswick, Norwich, along with Travell, born circa 1985 and living on Beverley Road in Norwich, and Harber, born approximately in 1995 from the travellers site on Shorthorn Road in Stratton Strawless, Norwich, faced charges related to hare coursing offences.

On the night of September 16, 2020, at approximately 11:30 pm, officers from the local police force responded to reports of men with dogs on private land near Sharrington, close to Melton Constable. The police arrived to find a silver Citroen vehicle containing a dead hare, which was evidence of illegal hunting activity. Using advanced night vision goggles, officers observed two men with two Lurcher-type dogs hiding within the hedgerows, attempting to evade detection.

Following the incident, three men and a teenage boy voluntarily attended the Aylsham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. During the investigation, they were all questioned about their involvement in the hare coursing activity. The men—Mitchell, Travell, and Harber—were subsequently charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs, an offence under sections 1 and 6 of the 2004 Hunting Act. All three pleaded guilty to the charge during court proceedings.

As a result of their guilty pleas, each man was fined £500, ordered to pay £145 in court costs, and a victim surcharge of £50. Additionally, they were issued Criminal Behaviour Orders that will restrict their activities for the next three years. A confiscation order was also made for the three dogs involved, which will now be rehomed. The teenage boy involved was advised that no further action would be taken against him, effectively dismissing any charges or penalties.

This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat illegal hunting activities in the Norwich area, emphasizing the seriousness with which such offences are treated and the commitment to protecting wildlife from unlawful pursuits.