Man convicted of hare-coursing offences

A dog owner whose lurcher type dogs killed wild hares has been convicted of hare coursing.

James Kent, 40, of Wigan, was given a criminal behaviour order at Lancaster Magistrates' Court banning him for five years from trespassing on land in Lancashire with a lurcher type dog.

Kent was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and must forfeit the Nissan X Trail vehicle he used to commit his offences.

He was convicted of eight offences: two counts of hunting a wild mammal with dogs, two counts of trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs, two counts of being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs, and two counts of daytime trespass in pursuit of game.

PC Sean Dalby, from Lancashire Police, said: "Kent has shown absolutely no regard for animals' rights to live peacefully in the wild. Instead, he allowed his dogs to cruelly maim and kill hares.

"I hope that this result shows those who commit these types of offences that we have a dedicated team of officers, and we will find you."

Lancashire Police said the investigation into Kent began after police received reports of hare coursing on land off Whiteley's Lane, in Ormskirk, on Christmas Day.

The force added the lurcher dogs - a crossbreed bred for hunting - were then "allowed to kill wild hares" on 26 January.

As a result, Lancashire Police began an investigation and Kent was subsequently charged with the eight offences.

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