By Hull Daily Mail | Posted: April 25, 2014
By Simon Bristow
ADMITTED CHARGES: From left, Michael Johnson, Paul Thompson, Anthony Broadbent and Samuel Harrison
FOUR poachers have been fined for illegally hunting with dogs.
Michael Johnson, 47, Paul Thompson, 36, Anthony Broadbent, 24, and 18-year-old Samuel Harrison, all admitted a joint charge of illegally hunting a wild mammal with dogs when they appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
They were also charged with daytime trespassing in pursuit of game, but after initially entering not guilty pleas to both offences, the four admitted illegally hunting with dogs when no evidence was offered in respect of the trespassing charge.
A 35-year-old man who was also charged with both offences did not attend court.
The men were arrested after being seen on private land in Garton, near Driffield, on November 11, last year.
All were described as wearing "muddy" camouflage clothing and were with two dogs.
The men were also heard to be making shouts or calls consistent with hunting, the court heard.
Thompson is from Rockingham, Newbridge Lane, Nafferton, near Driffield, Harrison is from Skipton, North Yorkshire, but all others are from the North-East.
After their initial not guilty pleas, District Judge Frederick Rutherford asked them: "So what were you doing there gentlemen, just having a walk out from Bishop Auckland were you, in Driffield?
Mr Johnson said: "We were walking down the road and the police pulled up and said we’d been on some land."
The court heard Johnson, Thompson and Broadbent all had previous convictions for poaching.
Sentencing the men, Judge Rutherford said: "Too many people come into this area, from out of the area, to hunt.
"Perhaps they are more well known, those who travel from Durham, in their own areas for what they are doing there."
Thompson, was fined £400 and must pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
Broadbent, of Atherton Terrace, Bishop Auckland, was fined £300 and must pay a £30 surcharge and £85 costs.
Harrison, of Clifford House Yard, Skipton, was fined £150 and must pay a £20 surcharge and £85 costs.
Johnson, of The Centre, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, was fined £110 and must pay a £20 surcharge and £85 costs.
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