10th March 2025
Offences related to hare coursing in Norfolk have cost five men over £2,500 in fines, costs, and kennelling fees.
The men appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 4 March 2025 and each admitted to daytime trespass in pursuit of game.
The charges relate to an incident on Monday 3 February 2025 when police responded to reports of suspicious activity and a dog running loose on private land in Beeston St Andrew off the A1270.
Martin Ward, 29, Eoin Ward 35, and John Pio Ward, 41, of Wilks Farm Drive, Norwich, Martin Ward, 32, of Kilcruttin, County Offaly, Ireland, and Eric Ward, 37, of County Meadows, Tuam, County Galway, Ireland were each handed fines and costs of £218 plus £288 towards kennelling fees.
The court ruled that four dogs seized by police could be returned to their owners.
THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD PRISON SENTENCES AS WELL AS FINES ETC.