LINCOLNSHIRE HARE COURSERS HIT WITH OVER £34,000 FINE AND DOG SEIZURE
A group of hare coursers have been ordered to pay more than £34,000 in fines, kennelling fees, and court costs.Four men were stopped by officers while traveling in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke.
They were halted around 1.45 pm on Thursday, October 10, shortly after a report was made to Lincolnshire Police about men, a vehicle, and dogs chasing prey on arable land.
The incident occurred at Holbeach St Marks, a remote rural area in south Lincolnshire.
Police officers observed the Ford being driven and managed to pull it over, discovering five individuals inside and four sight hound dogs in the rear.
The vehicle's number plate had been smeared in mud to make it unreadable.
Authorities seized the dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones.
The men faced charges of being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.
All pleaded not guilty but were convicted at Lincoln District Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 28.
The case against a 15-year-old boy was withdrawn.
PC Karen Irving from the Rural Crime Team stated: "Donât come to Lincolnshire hare coursing.
The dogs were seized and because the four men refused to sign the dogs over, they have incurred £28,560 in kennelling and welfare fees.
The court ordered they wonât be getting their dogs back.
We will do everything we can to stop this vile offending.
Protecting our rural communities and wildlife is what we are here for, every day, all year." Elijah King, 20, and Joseph King, 41, both of Teston Road, Offham, West Malling, Kent, were each fined £750.
Elijah Moore, 44, of Stonehurst Lane, Hadlow Down, East Sussex, was also fined £750.
Charles Lee, aged 42, of Polhill Park, Polhill, Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent, was fined £1,250.
They must also each pay compensation of £7,140 for kennelling and welfare costs.
All four men were handed Criminal Behaviour Orders banning them from entering Lincolnshire between July 31 and April 30, which is recognized as the hare coursing season.
Furthermore, they are prohibited from entering any of the five counties under the East of England agreement during this period, either alone or with others, with dogs of any breed.
This includes Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire.
They are also barred from possessing any instruments used for poaching during the day or night in these counties.
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 several leads, slip leads, and collars.
The offenders are also ordered to pay court costs of £162.50 and a victim surcharge of £300 (or £500 for Charles Lee).
