Lincolnshire Hare Coursers Handed Criminal Behaviour Orders and Deprived of Dogs

Two hare coursers have been handed criminal behaviour orders and deprived of their dogs after committing offences in Lincolnshire.

Michael Chaulk, 25, of Bittams Lane, Chertsey, Surrey, was previously convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs, trespass with intent to pursue hares with dogs and failing to comply with the requirements of a community protection order.

William Smith, 21, of Ecton Lane, Northampton, was previously convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs and trespass with intent to pursue hares with dogs.

Both men appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for sentencing on Monday, 11th December 2023.

Trespass with intent to pursue hares with dogs is a relatively new offence under section 51 of the Police, Crime and Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. It has a maximum penalty on summary conviction of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.

Magistrates heard that police attended Common Drove, Crowland, in response to reports of hare coursing on the morning of Sunday, 12th March 2023.

Four men, including Chaulk and Smith, were arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with hare coursing offences. Various items of hare coursing paraphernalia were seized by the police.

Magistrates were of the opinion that Chaulk and Smith's offences were serious enough to merit the imposition of a community order.

Chaulk was sentenced to a 12-month community order with the requirement that he completes 120 hours' unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £4,929.43 in kennel costs, £450 towards prosecution costs and £114 surcharge.

Smith was sentenced to a 12-month community order with the requirement that he completes 100 hours' unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £4,929.43 in kennel costs, £450 towards prosecution costs and £114 surcharge.

Exercising their powers under section 146 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2020, Magistrates also disqualified each man from driving for a period of 56 days (see my article "Driving Disqualification for Non-Driving Offences").

The court also made a deprivation order in respect of items seized in connection with the offences - namely four dogs, their leads, collars and lamps.

As if Chaulk and Smith's day wasn't bad enough, Magistrates also granted the Crown's application to make each of them subject to a criminal behaviour order.

The orders, which last four years in relation to Chaulk and three years in relation to Smith, have the following identical requirements:

• They must have any sight hound, greyhound, long dog, lurcher type dog or cross breed thereof, in their ownership microchipped to their correct address.
• They must not enter between 31st July and 30th April onto any private land in the county of Lincolnshire with a sighthound, greyhound, long dog or lurcher type dog or cross breed thereof.
• They must not be in the company of other persons with any sighthound, greyhound, long dog or lurcher type dog or cross breed thereof on any private land in Lincolnshire.
• They must not be on any private land in Lincolnshire with any non-excluded dog without the express written permission of the private landowner.

Speaking after the sentencing, Sgt Debbie Nunn, of Lincolnshire Police's Rural Crime Action Team, said: "This was a really good result in which our officers were supported by Cambridgeshire Police.

"One of our force priorities is hare coursing and our Rural Crime Action Team continue to take robust action against these offences.

"Hare coursing is criminal, as well as cruel and we will continue to work with communities and partners to tackle the problem.

"Our message to anyone thinking about hare coursing in Lincolnshire: We will adapt our tactics and resources, and with the help of the people of Lincolnshire, we will arrest you, we will seize your vehicle, seize your dogs and work tirelessly to ensure a successful prosecution.

"I would urge the public to be vigilant. If you spot any potential hare coursers, please contact us immediately."

This is another really good bit of sentencing. It sends the message loud and clear that wildlife criminals are not welcome in Lincolnshire and will be dealt with robustly by the court.

I again doff my cap to the colleagues concerned.