Pair caught poaching are ‘quite lazy’

A hairdresser and his partner caught poaching were too lazy to go around the private property to DOC land, their lawyer says.

Jared Allan Ewers, 47, and Simone Marie Cook, 40, were caught on camera hunting on a property between Blenheim and Nelson 18 times in 15 months.

They had to scale a 2-metre security gate each time, sometimes taking a wheelbarrow with them.

The Pelorus property owner installed the security camera concerned about unlawful hunting and the safety of his family and workers, a police summary said.

Ewers was caught carrying a Browning lever-action highpowered rifle, and Cook was carrying a high-powered boltaction rifle with a black synthetic stock.

On five of the visits, the footage showed them leaving with deer they had shot.

When spoken to by police, Ewers and Cook declined to comment. Police sought the confiscation and destruction of the rifles.

In the Blenheim District Court yesterday, Ewers, a hairdresser, and Cook each admitted a charge of illegal hunting.

Their lawyer, Nick Taylor, said the property was surrounded by Department of Conservation land, and the easiest way for the hunters to get to that land was to travel through the private property.

‘‘They both admitted to me they are quite lazy,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘They are very apologetic and very embarrassed about being in court today.’’

Ewers and Cook had since sold their rifles, and accepted police could yet revoke licences, Taylor said.

Judge David Ruth said the maximum penalty for poaching was very high.

‘‘Parliament made it so to dissuade people from unlawful hunting on other people’s land.’’

Cook had no previous convictions. Ewers had one previous conviction but it was several years ago, Judge Ruth said. ‘‘I can only take the view you simply ignored the signs [that said ‘keep out’].’’

Ewers and Cook were convicted and fined $5000 each. their gun