Sentenced for hare coursing
When Craig Rooks was stopped by police and searched under the Hunting Act his phone uncovered his hare coursing activities.
Rooks had been stopped by police in North Greetwell in October last year while driving a Nissan X-Trail. Both the state of his vehicle and the equipment he had in his car suggested he was equipped to hare course.
Items found in the vehicle linked Rooks directly to hare coursing, including the two long dogs (pictured), a thermal scope, binoculars, slip leads and rope. He was arrested on suspicion of going equipped for hunting or pursuing hares; his dogs, Bonny and Peggy, were seized, along with his car and the other equipment.
When his phone was examined videos and voice recordings between Rooks and his friends were found about hare coursing, planning future trips and bragging about how well he had done with his dogs and how good they were at killing hares.
Dc Aaron Flint, Lincolnshire Police’s Wildlife Crime Officer, said: "The equipment Rooks had with him, binoculars, thermal scope, two lurchers and makeshift slip leads are much more well known for use in illegal hare coursing.
“Rural crimes such as hare coursing have been prevalent across farms in Lincolnshire and surrounding forces. Historically there has been ignorance of the true costs of these offences and the threat and harm caused to rural victims.
The Lincolnshire force is a founding member of Operation Galileo, which is now a national response to hare coursing across the country. The operation has been very successful in reducing the cruel and brutal activity of hare coursing by identifying best practice and by using powerful deterrents; the confiscation and forfeiture of dogs, equipment and vehicles.
In addition, offenders can be handed orders on conviction including Criminal Behaviour Orders, driving bans and compensation costs for kennelling and care of their dogs while an investigation and criminal proceedings are ongoing.
During a trial at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court Rooks, 57, of Vicarage Gardens, Todmorden was found guilty of going equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.
He was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order for 10 years, banning him from day from Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire, in the company of anyone with dogs of any breed between July 31to the April 30 (hare coursing season).
The order also prohibits possessing any instruments to be used for poaching either during the day or night-time with the five counties, until October 2034.
He was ordered to pay compensation of £13,125 for kennelling and vet fees, fined £100 and a victim surcharge of £114. A Deprivation Order was made for his two long dogs, the thermal imager and binoculars. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and handed a Community Order for rehabilitation activity.
