ABERDEEN HARE COURSING GANG: COLIN STEWART, MARK STEWART, AND RAYMOND HIGGINS INVOLVED IN CRUEL HARE HUNTING ACROSS SCOTLAND

In a significant crackdown on illegal wildlife activities, three men from Aberdeen—Raymond Higgins, born around 1971, of Summerhill Road AB15; Colin Stewart, born around 1985, of Blackthorn Crescent AB16; and Mark Stewart, born around 1990, of Clinterty Caravan Park, Kinellar AB21 0TN—have been convicted of participating in hare coursing, a cruel and illegal sport involving the use of dogs to hunt and kill hares.

Colin Stewart received a sentence of 135 days in jail after being caught in the act of using dogs to hunt hares. The conviction was secured largely through DNA evidence, which played a crucial role in linking the men to their crimes. The trio’s activities extended beyond a single incident, with evidence indicating they had engaged in hare coursing at various locations across Scotland, including the island of Tiree, between November 15, 2015, and March 27, 2016.

The police investigation was sparked after officers examined a Samsung video camera found inside a van belonging to the suspects at Ladywell Farm, situated on the outskirts of Kirriemuir, Angus. The footage revealed the men actively involved in the illegal sport, with specialist wildlife prosecutor Fiona Caldwell describing their actions as “cruel sport.”

According to Caldwell, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on March 27, a witness at a residence nearby observed the suspects setting a dog onto a hare at Ladywell. The witness also noted a Ford Focus vehicle associated with the individuals in the field, which was driven by Raymond Higgins. Police responded swiftly, stopping the van nearby, where the men claimed they were searching for a missing dog.

Further investigations uncovered that Colin Stewart was involved in other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, for which he was sentenced to six years in prison in January 2020. During the police inquiry, it was suggested that individuals matching the description of the suspects had been seen coursing hares earlier, but the men denied these allegations, becoming noticeably evasive.

In an attempt to retrieve a third dog, Colin Stewart asked officers to allow him to fetch the animal from nearby trees. However, he soon made a quick escape into the woods and managed to evade capture. Despite deploying additional police units and a police dog to track him down, Colin Stewart was not located.

Further evidence was uncovered when police found footage on a video camera showing the Aberdeen men posing with dead hares and discussing the incident at Kirriemuir. The investigation also revealed extensive prior offences linked to both Stewart men. Photographs of three dogs involved in the incident were taken, and swabs were collected for DNA analysis.

Post-mortem examinations conducted by SAC Consulting: veterinary services confirmed that the hare found at the scene had died from injuries inflicted by a large predator, later identified as one of the dogs used in the coursing. Dr. Lucy Webster of Wildlife DNA Forensics, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), emphasized the significance of DNA evidence in wildlife crime investigations, stating, “This case demonstrates the power of animal DNA in wildlife crime investigation. A dog DNA profile recovered from the hare carcass is a match to one of the dependents’ dogs—providing very strong evidence to link these men to this specific hare coursing incident.”

In terms of sentencing, Colin Stewart was handed a 135-day custodial sentence along with a one-year ban on owning or keeping any dogs. Mark Stewart received a one-year supervision order and was disqualified from possessing any dogs for the same period. Raymond Higgins was fined £400 for his involvement in the illegal activity. The case highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to combat wildlife crime and protect Scotland’s native species from cruelty and illegal hunting practices.