KIAN HARRATT, CODIE SMITH, AND BILLY HAIGH CAUGHT HARE COURSING NEAR PONTEFRACT AND BARNSLEY

On April 3, 2022, law enforcement officers from Humberside Police intercepted a vehicle in the vicinity of farmland near the village of Wressle, situated in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The officers' intervention was prompted by reports of illegal hare coursing activity taking place in the area, a practice that involves the pursuit and capture of hares using dogs, often conducted under the cover of darkness and on private land without permission.

During the stop, three individuals were arrested: Kian Harratt, a professional footballer on loan to Bradford City FC; Codie Colin Smith, an aspiring boxer; and Billy Haigh, a resident of South Hiendley. All three men were subsequently charged with offences under the Game Act, which criminalizes activities such as hare coursing and poaching.

These individuals faced justice at Beverley Magistrates Court, where they appeared on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. The court found all three guilty of their respective charges. Kian Harratt, who was at the time a striker for Bradford City FC, was handed a fine of £830, along with an additional £150 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £83. Harratt's conviction was particularly notable given his status as a professional athlete, currently on loan from Huddersfield Town FC, and his previous associations with clubs such as Harrogate Town and Guiseley.

Codie Smith, who actively promotes his boxing matches on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, was fined £173, with £150 in costs and a victim surcharge of £34. Smith has publicly stated that the prosecution was only for trespassing, but evidence suggests that he, along with Harratt and Haigh, participated in hare coursing activities, often sharing videos and images of their kills within a Facebook group called East Midlands Hare Coursing. Smith is sponsored by several organizations, including Power Ltd in Wakefield, MC&C Utilities in Pontefract, and others.

Billy Haigh, a resident of South Hiendley, was fined £519, with an additional £150 in costs and a victim surcharge of £52. Haigh's involvement in the illegal activity further underscores the extent of the wildlife crime committed by the trio.

Following his conviction, Kian Harratt faced disciplinary action from Huddersfield Town FC, the club he was associated with at the time. The club confirmed that Harratt's loan to Bradford City had been terminated and that he had been subjected to internal disciplinary procedures. Huddersfield Town issued a statement acknowledging Harratt's guilty verdict, noting that he had been fined and would participate in educational and community work as part of his punishment. The club expressed disappointment and emphasized that Harratt's actions were in stark contrast to their moral standards, adding that he had shown remorse but that his conduct was unacceptable.

At the time of his conviction, Harratt was a key player for Bradford City, having joined the club on loan from Huddersfield Town in June 2022. His career also included loan spells at Harrogate Town and Guiseley. The club's statement indicated that Harratt had returned to Huddersfield Town and would now train and play with the club's B team.

It is also noteworthy that the three men are known associates of Dane Antony Enright, a violent criminal and fellow hare courser, as well as Emma Louise Wellings, a children’s nursery worker who shares their interest in wildlife persecution. Smith, who is also an amateur boxer, has expressed that the prosecution was only for trespassing, although evidence suggests their participation in more serious wildlife crimes. The group is active on social media, particularly within a Facebook group dedicated to hare coursing, where they regularly post videos and images of their illegal activities.