Hare Coursing Arrests

TWO men who travelled to an area Rochford to hunt hares with dogs are the first in Essex to be sentenced under a new law.

Two men, one from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and one from Hawkhurst, Kent, have admitted trespassing with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs.

Tommy Gray, 19, of Weller Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and 20-year-old Joseph Abercromie, of Heartenoak Road, Hawkhurst, Kent, both admitted the offence when they appeared before Basildon magistrates on July 13.

During a hearing, Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard the pair had travelled to Paglesham on January 6 this year before they were spotted trespassing on fields with two dogs and reported to Essex Police.

Officers attended and the pair were arrested and charged with the new offence under section 63 of the Police, Crime, Courts, and Sentencing Act 2022.

The pair were both fined £250 and ordered to pay £105 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Magistrates told them they had travelled a great distance and the offence was ‘planned and deliberate’. They decided against banning either man from driving because it was their first offence and against disqualifying them from owning or keeping dogs because of their family circumstances.

Sgt Ben Felton said: “Hare coursing causes landowners, farmers, and the rural community a large amount of anxiety because of the damage caused to the land by trespassing.

“We won’t tolerate animal cruelty in any form and will seek to prosecute whenever we have evidence of such crimes because we understand the damage, its cost, and the fear this cruel crime can cause in our more isolated communities.

“This prosecution is the first of its kind in Essex, and among the first in the country, and we won’t hesitate to use the legislation to prevent and deter people from poaching game in our county.

“The message is getting out that hare coursers are not welcome in Essex.

“During the 20222/23 season we reduced hare coursing incidents across the county by 50 per cent working with the CPS, forces across the eastern region and Kent, with help from the National Police Air Service.

“We encourage anyone who sees hare coursing in action to call 999.”

This is the second time this year Essex Police rural engagement team has been at the forefront of using the additional legislative powers of the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing (PCCS) Act 2022 to target would-be poachers.

In February, two men were convicted under the Game Act 1831 after each admitted a charge of daytime trespass in pursuit of game.

Picture: : One of the men sentenced under the new law

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