A BARNSLEY man who was convicted of hare coursing following an incident on New Year’s Eve two years ago will be used as an example to deter others from following a similar path, a police force has warned.
Elijah Boswell, of Smithies Lane’s caravan site, was charged following an incident in 2023 in Faxfleet, East Yorkshire.
The 38-year-old had initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty at Beverley Magistrates’ Court earlier this month and was fined £472, told to pay costs of £300 and a £189 surcharge.
Humberside Police’s rural task force were immediately deployed following reports of suspicious activity and through a combination of teamwork and officers’ local knowledge, a vehicle containing Boswell was stopped close to the location.
They found several lurcher-type dogs in the vehicle, along with a thermal scope - a piece of equipment used to pick up on animals’ heat during the night.
Unlike optical scopes, thermal sights don’t rely on visible light, allowing them to function in complete darkness.
During interview, Boswell did not provide an account as to why he was in possession of the dogs and equipment seized from the vehicle.
PC Rich Fussey, of the rural task force, said: “Illegal hare coursing is not only a priority for us but also for the UK Wildlife Crime Partnership.
“This kind of criminality involved is serious - perpetrators are organised and sophisticated in their planning, often involving cross-border offending.
“Not only does it involve barbaric acts against protected wildlife species, but it causes harassment, alarm, distress and annoyance to the rural communities.
“Poachers do not care about trespassing across farmland, intimidation to farmers and landowners, and the damage they cause.
“However, they do care about the zero-tolerance response that we have towards their illegal activities.”
PC Fussey said the case involving Boswell ought to act as a warning to others who identify rural locations with populations of hare.
“I hope this case and the seizure of the thermal scope used in the commission of hare coursing offences sends out a strong message to anyone with intentions on travelling to our area intend on conducting illegal hare coursing activities,” he added.
“We will be ready to take positive action utilising all the available legislation.
“I would like to pass on my continued thanks to local farm watch communities for supporting our response to this incident together we make more hostile places for wildlife crime.
“If you witness any suspected hare coursing in progress, please contact the police on our non-emergency number 101.
“Always call 999 in an emergency.”
