Two hare coursers banned from farmland in landmark ruling
© NFU Two men have been banned from setting foot on private or agricultural land across England and Wales for three years, following a landmark police crackdown on hare coursing in Cambridgeshire.
Levi Lee, 36, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, Berkshire and Francie Doherty, 47, of Gipsy Lane, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire each pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event on 25 January this year.
Both were fined £500 and issued with Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… hare coursing
Francie Doherty © Cambridgeshire Police
The court orders – believed to be the first of their kind in the country – prohibit the pair from entering any private or agricultural land without written permission.
Lee is also banned from driving any vehicle with a sighthound outside a five-mile radius of his home unless travelling to a vet, with proof required.
The bans follow a major police operation involving multiple forces and national crime units, which targeted rural crime across Cambridgeshire.
Dozens of 4x4s descended on fields and villages across the Cambridgeshire Fens on 25 January, in a co-ordinated spree of suspected hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving. Farmers reported torn-up crops and damaged property.
The incident led to 43 arrests, with 25 people charged with a total of 39 offences.
Levi Lee © Cambridgeshire Police
‘Significant milestone’
Det Insp Matthew Selves, who led the investigation, said: “This is a significant milestone in our efforts to tackle hare coursing and rural crime. These CBOs set a strong precedent for how seriously this type of offending is being taken.”
The NFU welcomed the court’s action. NFU Cambridgeshire council representative Mat Smith said: “We are very pleased to see this action being taken and hopefully it will act as a deterrent to stop people from committing this awful crime.
“Hare coursing is a major ongoing issue – damaging crops, intimidating rural communities and raising serious animal welfare concerns.”
A further 20 men are due to face court in the coming months for sentencing and trials.