Pair from Doncaster in court for hare coursing in the Isle

TWO men have been fined after being caught illegal hare coursing with dogs in the Isle of Axholme.

The incident involving two Doncaster men took place in January at a farm in Sandtoft.

Felix Buller Boyling, 47, and Ambrose Watson, 43, both pleaded guilty to separate charges of hunting a wild mammal with a dog, at North Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court in Scunthorpe.

Boyling, of Belle Vue Avenue, was ordered to pay a £200 fine with a victim surcharge of £15 plus £85 prosecution costs. He was disqualified from driving for 28 days, and the court seized his car.

Ambrose Watson of Chequer Avenue, Hyde Park, was also handed a £200 fine, with £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

The cruel sports of hare coursing and deer hunting with dogs are a priority for wildlife officers in the Isle and throughout North Lincolnshire. But poaching with dogs is a growing issue nationally, say campaigners.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “With regards to incidents of poaching with dogs – we would urge anyone with information to contact the police in the first instance, who have the powers to deal with these kinds of incidents.

“There has, historically, been a number of cases in the Isle of Axholme and North Lincolnshire area.

“A special unit has now been set up to try to control the problem.”

Gangs behind illegal hare-coursing and deer hunting activity also damage farmers’ land, and have been known to steal equipment.

The Hunting Act 2004 means that anyone found guilty of hare coursing is liable on conviction to a fine of up to £5,000.

Anyone with information about illegal hare coursing or other forms of poaching should contact Humberside Police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-news/pair-from-doncaster-in-court-for-hare-coursing-in-the-isle-1-5440041

Rural gangs linked to drug operations

Poaching and hare coursing gangs often linked with major drugs operations are behind most crimes against wildlife.

In Cumbria last year, 363 wildlife crimes were reported to the police and of those 211 involved poaching, hare coursing and lamping – hunting animals at night with high-powered lights.

In one incident at Sandysyke near Longtown, three people caught for deer poaching were part of an organised gang involved in an armed robbery.

In another incident deer poachers who butchered a number of animals in a garage were found to be part of a major drugs operation.

The shocking scale of wildlife crime in the area was revealed by John Shaw, wildlife officer with Cumbria Police.

He was speaking at a rural crime conference at police headquarters in Penrith organised by the Crimestoppers charity.

He said: “These crimes are of great concern to us and it is an area in which we are putting great efforts.

“These incidents of poaching, hare coursing and lamping are often linked with major crime operations including drugs and armed robberies.”

Also speaking was Cumbria’s Chief Constable Stuart Hyde who has just been made national lead for wildlife and rural crime with the Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

The conference heard that while the number of recorded rural crimes had fallen from 5,766 in 2010 to 5,581 last year, there had been a big rise in thefts of fuel, scrap metal and tools.

Mr Hyde said the police were working with organisations such as Crimestoppers and the National Farmers’ Union to combat rural crime.

“In a county such as Cumbria it is very important that we tackle this issue,” he said.

“The theft of quad bikes, fuel and scrap metal impacts heavily on our farmers and their livelihoods.”

Mr Hyde said one initiative was the issue of red stickers for farmers to put on their quads to remind them to remove the keys when leaving their vehicles.

He added that in his new role as wildlife and rural crime lead with ACPO he was able to use the experience gathered in his policing role in Cumbria. “I think that is why I was asked. There is so much going on here in Cumbria in terms of wildlife and rural crime that we have good expertise in this area,” he said.

Gary Murray, north west regional manager for Crimestoppers, said there was a major link between rural crime and serious, organised offences.

“It is important that we get together as many ideas and initiatives as we can to protect Cumbria from these criminals,” he said.

SCrawford

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/rural-gangs-linked-to-drug-operations-1.937458?referrerPath=/news-round-up-1.50001

 

Leader of illegal blood-sports ring gets life ban on keeping animals

THE leader of an illegal badger baiting ring has been banned from owning dogs for life after being convicted under new animal cruelty laws.

Andrew Mullen was found to have a haul of photographs showing images of dogs fighting badgers, foxes and deer when his home was raided by police and animal welfare officers following an undercover Scottish SPCA investigation.

The officers taking part in the raid also discovered five seriously injured dogs in the garden of his home in Uddingston in Lanarkshire.

Mullen, 37, who pled guilty to animal cruelty charges when he first appeared in court in January, is the first person in Scotland to be convicted of keeping dogs for baiting wild animals since the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 came into effect.

Yesterday, when he appeared for sentence at Lanark Sheriff Court, Mullen was banned from owning animals for life. Sheriff Nikola Stewart also imposed a six-month curfew order on Mullen and ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service.

The court was told that Mullen, who is unemployed, had organised illegal dog fights against foxes, badgers and deer and kept five dogs for the purposes of animal fighting.

His home in Uddingston was raided in March 2010 and officers discovered a laptop with 340 photographs showing Mullen and his associates goading dogs into fighting and attacking other animals. Mullen was also pictured holding up dead foxes or laying them on the ground, apparently as trophies.

Five dogs, three lurchers, a brown terrier-type puppy and a terrier bitch were found with “terrible” injuries in kennels in Mullen’s back garden. A veterinary examination revealed that three of Mullen’s five dogs had injuries consistent with badger baiting.

Mullen had denied actively using his dogs to fight badgers, but accepted that he allowed others to use them and that he knew the dogs he kept were to be used on badgers.

He admitted breaching the 2006 Animal Health and Welfare Act by keeping five dogs for the purposes of animal fighting between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2010.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn welcomed the lifetime ban imposed by Sheriff Stewart.

“We are delighted that Andrew Mullen has been convicted of keeping dogs for the purpose of fighting following our investigation and that a life ban on keeping animals has been imposed,” he said.

“It is very encouraging to see that Scotland’s animal welfare legislation is being used successfully for the protection of both domestic and wild animals. This result sends out an important message that keeping dogs for the purposes of animal fighting is illegal and will not be tolerated.”

He added: “Badger baiting is a heinous crime against badgers. We will continue to actively target badger baiters and we urge anyone with information on those involved in this horrific blood sport to call us, even anonymously, to raise any concerns they might have.”

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/leader_of_illegal_blood_sports_ring_gets_life_ban_on_keeping_animals_1_2149392

 

Trying to connect with the common man/woman?

Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Countryside Alliance and Director of the Countryside Alliance Foundation with effect from 9th February.

I’ve heard he is a binman and lives in a council flat, (not that there is anything wrong with that)

 

Man defiant following illegal hunting charge

Police caught two men hare coursing after they were seen hunting illegally on a farmer’s field.

Colin Morrell (51) and Simon Jones (30) admitted breaking the 2004 Hunting Act when they appeared at Loughborough magistrates court yesterday.

The court heard the defendants were spotted with lurcher-type dogs in a field at Langham, near Oakham, at about 8am on November 25 last year.

A local farmer was alerted by a neighbour to the two men, who were seen in a field with two dogs.

Prosecutor Sally Laundon said: “He thought they appeared to be hare-coursing. Through binoculars, he saw two men at the bottom of the field and two dogs further up.

“He watched the two dogs which appeared to be lurcher or greyhound types hunting or chasing and one appeared to have caught a mammal, the other was circling it.”

The farmer drove to where the men’s vehicle, a Subaru Forester, was parked and which contained other dogs, but the men were not there.

She said: “The police attended and inspected the field. There were scuff marks on the ground, along with animal fur and blood which appeared to be fresh.

“When the two men came back, one of the dogs had blood on its head.”

Ms Laundon said Morrell, of Bishop Road, Stoke-on-Trent, admitted hare-coursing and told officers that he had left two hares under a hedge.

Morrell told the court: “This is something I’ve done all my life, like my father and his father before him.

“Someone needs to get a hold of this and take it by the reins. A new law came in, in 2004, which I don’t understand.

“I can’t believe what’s gone on over something as trivial.

“I feel totally sorry for the young fella who was with me because he just gave me a lift.

“He doesn’t know what a hare or trespassing is.”

Mark Wardley, defending Jones, of Recorder Grove, Stoke-on-Trent, said: “He doesn’t realise coursing is a criminal offence.

“When he gave his co-accused a lift, he thought they would be chasing rabbits. It later became clear to him they were hunting hares.”

Morrell was fined £65 and ordered to pay £40 in costs and a victim surcharge. Jones was given a conditional discharge for six months and told to pay £20 costs.

Speaking after the case Morrell said: “I’ve done it all my life. I don’t know any other. My dad used to breed lurchers and greyhounds. They won’t stop me doing this till the day I die.”

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Man-defiant-following-illegal-hunting-charge/story-14332733-detail/story.html

Stokesley poacher is given an Asbo

A PROLIFIC poacher who committed a series of offences over six years has been given an anti-social behaviour order.

John Langan from Stokesley was arrested by officers in March 2010 in Bridlington and charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

Humberside Police then applied for the Asbo due to the high number of poaching and hare-coursing incidents involving Langan between January 30, 2005, and January 10 this year.

Running for three years, the order features a number of conditions. If they are breached, Langan could face prison.

Sergeant Liz Staff, who works in North Lincolnshire, said: “Mr Langan is no longer welcome here and any sightings should be reported to the police immediately.

“Hare coursing is a massive problem for the force. We know gangs of criminals travel into our area often from out of the county.

“It is a myth that they are killing animals for the dinner table, they are actually doing it for the sport. Large sums of money often change hands from betting on the dogs.

“What is also a great cause for concern is the damage they are causing to fences and crops, the threats and intimidation aimed at farmers and game keepers and the fact that they are often on the look out to see what there is to steal.”

Langan, 25, of Sowerby Crescent, Stokesley, received the Asbo from magistrates in Hull.

The order bars him from causing alarm, harassment or distress in the force area and from entering it other than to catch or arrive on a ferry from Hull with pre-booked tickets, to travel to and from Humberside Airport with pre-booked tickets, to work in the East Riding in the construction industry, or to stop to buy fuel.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/08/04/stokesley-poacher-is-given-an-asbo-84229-29172202/

Poachers be warned

Monday 11 July 2011

Police in the Ribble Valley have issued a warning to poachers after the Constabulary secured its first ever prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

Nicholas Green (23), of Reynolds Street, Burnley, appeared before Preston Magistrates on June 22nd where he pleaded guilty to hunting a wild animal with a dog. He was caught after officers attended a report of a suspicious vehicle on the outskirts of Longridge on June 4th and discovered a man leaving nearby farmland with lamps and two lurcher dogs. Green was given a £400 fine.

Jeffrey Johnson (34), of Forfar Street, Burnley, became the first person in Lancashire to be prosecuted under the Hunting Act. Johnson appeared before Hyndburn Magistrates on on June 9th where he was found guilty of hunting with dogs on the grounds of the former Altham power station in June last year. He was fined £270 and required to pay £265 costs.

Police are continuing to crack-down on poaching and other associated crime, such as theft of farming equipment, and are urging other local residents to report any suspicious activity.

Ribble Valley wildlife officer PC Carl Chew said: “We take a tough stance on rural crime and work very closely with agencies including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Environment Agency, gamekeepers, landowners and farmers.”

“We all work tirelessly to protect Lancashire’s wildlife and I urge the farming community to continue to work with us to tackle the issue.”

Lancashire’s wildlife crime officer Mark Thomas added: “Lancashire Constabulary is dedicated to stamping out illegal poaching and rural crime. I hope this action reassures the farming community that the police are working to keep Lancashire safe.”

Anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has any information about poaching can contact police on 0845 125 35 45, or anonymously at Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/poachers_be_warned_1_3566970

Burnley poachers are warned after court cases

POACHERS have been issued a warning by police after they secured their first prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

Two Burnley men were fined for poaching activity in Longridge and Altham.

Nicholas Green, 23, of Reynolds Street, Burnley, was fined £400 by Preston magistrates when he pleaded guilty to hunting a wild animal with a dog.

He was caught after officers attended a report of a suspicious vehicle on the outskirts of Longridge and discovered a man leaving nearby farmland with lamps and two lurcher dogs.

Jeffrey Johnson, 34 of Forfar Street, Burnley, was fined £535 after being found guilty of hunting with dogs on the grounds of the former Altham Power Station.

PC Carl Chew, Ribble Valley wildlife officer, said: “We take a tough stance on rural crime and work very closely with agencies including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Environment Agency, gamekeepers, land owners and farmers.

“We all work tirelessly to protect Lancashire’s wildlife and I urge the farming community to continue to work with us to tackle the issue.”

Meanwhile police have carried out anti-poaching operations in Padiham and Barrowford and officers have visited butchers, restaurants and game dealers to check poached meat is not being sold.

Mark Thomas, wildlife crime officer at Lancashire Police, said: “We regularly work with our neighbouring forces in Merseyside and Cumbria to prevent criminals travelling across borders to commit crime in rural areas. We also use text schemes, such as Farm Watch, in more remote areas.”

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/burnley/9121808.Burnley_poachers_are_warned_after_court_cases/

Phil Spencer of Channel 4 supports bloodsports

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=player_embedded&v=zQffb-Jt6uI

Phil Spencer of Channel 4′s ‘Location Location Location’ programme goes pigeon shooting, deerstalking and talks about his support for the Countryside Alliance.

Poachers caught on land were illegal hare-coursing

POLICE caught two men and a youth poaching on land and involved in illegal hare-coursing, a court heard.

George Hunter, 24, of Killingholme Road, Habrough, Nathan Mawson, 18, of Greengate Lane, South Killingholme, and a 16- year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted trespassing in pursuit of hares at Hayes Farm, Redbourne, near Brigg, on November 6.

Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, told North Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court that this area was regarded as one of the best in the country for hare-coursing and they often attracted large crowds, were filmed and were the subject of bets.

It was not, however, alleged that this was the case with these defendants.

An off-duty police officer reported seeing three males hare-coursing on land near Carr Lane, Redbourne.

One of them was slipping dogs and encouraging them to run after a hare. They were there without permission and were trespassing.

The trio began to run and an unattended vehicle was found at Hibaldstow Bridge. All three were with lurcher-type dogs.

They claimed they had come merely to walk their dogs and one of them strayed into a field.

Jason Nicholson, mitigating, said there was no commercial activity or enterprise and it was very low- level, opportunistic activity with no financial reward.

They were walking back to a caravan site at Brandy Wharf when they cut across fields and trespassed. One of the dogs was taken off its leash and chased a hare or rabbit.

“It’s nothing more sinister or sophisticated than that,” said Mr Nicholson. “It was a purely recreational activity.”

Hunter, who is a gardener, and Mawson were each fined £100 and were ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £15 victims’ surcharge.

The youth was given an absolute discharge, but must pay £85 costs.

District judge Daniel Curtis told the trio: “I am well aware of the difficulties poaching causes local farmers and those employed by local farmers as gamekeepers.

“There is no suggestion of any real degree of professionalism or organisation here.

“You know you should not be doing it.

“If you are country people, you know where you are allowed to go and where you are not allowed to go.

“You run the risk of running in to gamekeepers and them exercising some summary justice.”

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/Trio-trespassing/article-3348859-detail/article.html