JAMES CRICKMORE, JOHN JEFFORD, DENNY AND MARK LOVERIDGE BANNED FROM CAMBRIDGE FARMLAND IN MAJOR HARE COURSING CRACKDOWN

Four men from Cambridge and surrounding areas have been officially prohibited from entering farmland in Cambridgeshire during the hare coursing season, following a series of legal actions taken by local authorities. The men, James Crickmore, John Jefford, Denny Loveridge, and Mark Loveridge, were all subject to court-imposed injunctions after being linked to numerous hare coursing incidents over the past two years.

Mark William Loveridge, born in May 1981 and residing at 29 Milton Close, Horton, Slough SL3 9PP, was suspected of involvement in 13 separate hare coursing events. As part of the court order, he is prohibited from owning a sighthound or operating a four-wheel-drive vehicle during the hare coursing season, which runs from July 31 to March 31 each year.

John Jefford, born in October 1976 and living at 125/127 Scotland Road, Cambridge CB4 1QL, was also suspected of participating in 13 hare coursing incidents. The injunction against him prevents him from owning a sighthound or being in the company of anyone who owns one, aiming to curb his potential involvement in future activities.

Denny Loveridge, from Slough and residing at Mill Place Caravan Park, Datchet, was suspected of involvement in 17 incidents. Similar to the others, he is barred from owning a sighthound or driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle during the hare coursing season.

James Robert Crickmore, born in October 1980 and based at 2 Sunningdale, 70 Fen Road, Cambridge CB4 1UN, was suspected of involvement in a staggering 26 hare coursing incidents. The court order restricts him from owning a sighthound or being in the company of anyone with one, in an effort to prevent further illegal activity.

All four individuals are bound by injunctions issued by a county court judge, following a successful case brought by Cambridgeshire police. These legal measures are designed to prevent them from entering any farmland within Cambridgeshire during the entire hare coursing season for the next three years.

The police utilized a new database system to track and gather evidence against suspected hare coursers, which played a crucial role in securing these injunctions. A police spokesperson stated, “The judge was satisfied that he had heard evidence showing the men had been involved in hare coursing over a two-year period and therefore handed the men injunctions.”

PC Gareth Tanner commented on the case, saying, “This is an excellent result for the rural community and one of the first of its kind. I’m confident that the conditions granted will be effective. This has been a considerable piece of work, both due to the complexity of the tactics used, and the amount of evidence presented at court because of the sheer persistence of these individuals.”

He also highlighted the broader impact of hare coursing, noting, “Hare coursing costs the farming community thousands every year in damages to crops and land, as well as the obvious cruelty issues.” The successful legal action marks a significant step in efforts to combat illegal hare coursing activities in the Cambridgeshire region.