Man pays out over £600 and has dog taken away after hare coursing incident

A man faces a court fine of more than £600 and the loss of his car and his dog after being caught hare coursing in North Yorkshire.

28-year-old John Latcham was spotted allowing a lurcher dog to run loose and chase a hare on land at Well, near Bedale, on 28 January 2018.

North Yorkshire Police officers quickly attended and issued him with a Dispersal Notice, requiring him to leave the area immediately.

The two-year-old male dog was found nearby with the carcass of a hare, and was taken by police to a secure kennels to be looked after.

Mr Latcham, from Butterknowle, Durham, was charged with hunting a wild mammal with a dog. He was found guilty in his absence at Northallerton Magistrates Court on Tuesday 24 April 2018.

He was fined £660, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £66 victim surcharge. In addition, forfeiture orders were made for his Ford Mondeo, a slip dog lead, and the dog, which will now be re-homed.

Inspector Jon Grainge, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “Poaching is one of six national wildlife crime priorities, and has a significant impact on the rural communities of North Yorkshire, often leaving local residents in fear of further crimes.

“Latcham travelled a considerable distance to commit this offence. The sentence imposed should send a clear message that North Yorkshire Police will not tolerate this offending in our communities, and deal with all reports robustly.”

Farmers face threats

Thirty-one police forces, representing over 90% of forces facing issues with hare coursing in England and Wales, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have joined the NFU to highlight the illegal activity.

The police have highlighted how hare coursing, which some forces have linked to organised crime, sees farmers face threatening behaviour, violence and intimidation.

Then Deputy President of the NFU, Minette Batters said last year that hare coursing is causing "incredible cost and damage" to farm businesses.

“In our recent Rural Crime Report, we laid out how important a joined up approach is from all aspects of the Government, police and justice system to tackle these issues,” Ms Batters said.

“Six months on, this remains the case. It is critical for farm businesses that there is consistency in both policing and sentencing and the NFU will continue to push for this as the path forward.

“There needs to be robust action against hare coursers to end this blight on our countryside and ensure that farmers do not continue to be targeted by criminals.”