Men who killed a deer with their dogs are given community orders
POLICE OFFICERS have warned that wildlife crime will not be tolerated in Yorkshire after two men were sentenced for using lurcher dogs to hunt and kill a deer.
Scott Hayes, 24, of Blakewood Drive, Blaxton, Doncaster, and Christopher Darwin, 28, of Laycock Avenue, Doncaster, were spotted by police leaving private land with lurcher dogs, in Haxey on December 24.
The body of a freshly killed male roe deer was discovered nearby and further investigations revealed its injuries were consistent with it being killed by dogs.
The two men, who appeared before Grimsby Magistrates Court on Friday, were found guilty of poaching offences and sentenced to a 12 month community order.
They must also do 300 hours of unpaid work, pay £350 in court costs and were made the subject of a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) preventing them from entering the Humberside Police area.
Chief Inspector Paul Butler said: “This court result should send out a very clear message to those who commit wildlife offences that we take these offences seriously and will seek other sanctions available to the courts.
“The obtaining of CBOs in this case provides other police forces with a straightforward tool to deal with these men if they choose to commit wildlife offences with the use of the type of dog involved. I would like to thank the wildlife crime officers involved in bringing this case before the court, the CPS prosecutors involved and also the court for taking such offences seriously.”
Deer poaching is a problem in many areas across the UK, and it can involve extreme cruelty to the deer targeted, especially when dogs are used to chase and drag them down.
Chief Insp Butler added: “Poaching activity is a blight on the countryside and many of those involved are linked to other offending. Members of rural communities often feel vulnerable and intimidated by poachers who can be aggressive or offer violence if challenged.”