Two men sentenced for hare coursing offences

Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in hare coursing offences that took place in  Lincolnshire, in March 2023. 

Edward Connors, 24, and Jerry Connors, 19, both failed to attend their initial trial in December 2023, but after arrest warrants were issued, they appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 29 May, 2025 and were held accountable for their actions.

The charges stemmed from a report received by police on Sunday, 12 March 2023, when eyewitnesses spotted four men with dogs actively hunting hares on farmland in Crowland. The group was seen walking across the fields, while a blue 4x4 vehicle drove nearby. Police quickly responded and observed a blue Daihatsu Terios speeding across newly-planted crops in an attempt to flee.

When the suspects saw police approaching, they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving two dogs behind. The officers managed to track down two of the men, including Edward Connors, who attempted to jump ditches to escape. Jerry Connors, along with another suspect, trespassed onto a nearby railway line before being arrested.

At the subsequent trial in December, all four men were convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs and trespassing with intent to pursue hares. The court imposed various penalties, including driving bans, fines, and the seizure of dogs. The Connors brothers, who failed to attend the December hearing, were later sentenced with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order, prohibiting them from being in five counties with dogs or poaching tools.

In addition to a fine of £875 and compensation of £4,929.83, the Connors brothers also had all four dogs and related equipment, including collars and lamps, confiscated.

This sentencing highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat illegal hunting and protect wildlife in Lincolnshire.